Photo Credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP
(LOS ANGELES, CA – 11/4/2024) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today urged the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) to reject attempts by pro-Israel groups to suppress UTLA members’ free speech rights and silence educators who rightfully demand an end to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the governing body of UTLA voted to support a Congressional effort to block the sale of more than $20 billion in U.S. weapons to Israel. Their vote called on California Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler to support a “Joint Resolutions of Disapproval,” introduced by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, which aims to block the sale of billions of dollars in offensive U.S. weaponry to the Israeli government that, according to the International Court of Justice and virtually every human rights organization, is committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The Los Angeles Antisemitism Roundtable—a group of several pro-Israel organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, that targets educators and falsely conflates the criticism of Israel with antisemitism—sent a letter to UTLA expressing concern about the union’s vote. The letter stated that the resolution promotes antisemitism and distracts teachers from their educational priorities.
CAIR-LA recently signed on to a joint letter organized by rank-and-file community members strongly opposing the coordinated campaigns from pro-Israel individuals and groups that aim to silence educators speaking out on the genocide in Gaza. For years, UTLA educators have faced harassment, threats, and intimidation for their pro-Palestine activism.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Policy Manager Basha Jamil said:
“As Israel continues committing a genocide in Gaza with no end in sight, it is imperative to support educators who rightfully raise their voices in opposition. UTLA members are ethically correct in calling out the misallocation of American resources that support Israel to the tune of billions of dollars annually, while our schools and educators are left under-paid and under-resourced. UTLA’s principled resolution to ban weapons sales to Israel is a stand for the dignity and rights of Palestinians, not a reflection of antisemitism, or prejudice against Jewish people.
“We urge UTLA to reject this pressure from pro-Israel groups and see it for what it is—part of a highly coordinated statewide and national effort to stifle honest discourse and intimidate educators who dare to speak in support of Palestinian liberation. UTLA must continue to ensure that educators and students alike can freely engage in discussions centered on human rights, justice, and equity.”
CAIR-LA also sent a letter to UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz and other UTLA officers reaffirming its support for the union members’ advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
CAIR-LA also urged the UTLA board to reject the pressure to suppress Los Angeles teachers’ free speech rights and take action to defend them, and anyone else, who rightfully demands an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com