Veto Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement

High school students are already experiencing antisemitism in the classroom. We should know: We are 170 California high school students and parents who will be directly and negatively impacted if AB 101 is passed, the ethnic studies graduation requirement bill that enables the adoption of antisemitic curricula.

This bill will sanction the hounding of Zionist students in high schools across the state and encourage similar behavior across the nation. Zionism is integral to our Jewish identity and we are alarmed that this bill will institutionalize anti-Zionism, a dangerous form of antisemitism.

Antisemitism is growing on campuses across the country, from kindergarten through graduate school. A Club Z survey of Jewish teenagers found that half of the students do not wear items that easily identify them as Jews in public. For American Jewish teens, Israel and Zionism is inextricably linked to their Jewish identity. Manifestations of antisemitism span not only classic tropes of Jew-hatred (e.g. “Jews control the world”), but also include expressions of demonization and delegitimization of the Jewish State (e.g. “Zionism is racism” and “IDF soldiers are baby killers”).

Schools have a duty to protect students of all backgrounds, to provide a safe learning environment, and to teach fair and factual curricula.

To guarantee an education without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence, and combat bigotry and antisemitism in our public schools, Club Z Teens calls on the relevant government bodies to adopt the Jewish Students Bill of Rights.