Support SAUSD as it Rejects Attempts to Censor Palestine from Ethnic Studies Curriculum

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Support SAUSD as it Rejects Attempts to Censor Palestine from Ethnic Studies Curriculum

SAUSD Must Fight To Keep Palestine in Its Ethnic Studies Curriculum Despite Zionist Efforts to Silence Palestinian Voices

Despite immense pressure from Zionist groups to erase Palestine from its ethnic studies curriculum, SAUSD decided on May 23 to maintain the curriculum’s inclusion of Palestine. Since then, SAUSD has faced constant backlash from anti-Palestinian groups, including a lawsuit recently filed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and other Zionist organizations. While the lawsuit claims to challenge SAUSD for developing its ethnic studies course “in secrecy,” it is clearly just an attempt to intimidate the school district by weaponizing false accusations of antisemitism and silence Palestinian voices.

This lawsuit is yet another effort to silence any discussion about Palestine under the guise of antisemitic discrimination. This attempt to censor Palestine and any discussion of how the actions of the Israeli state have led to the displacement and suffering of many Palestinian families here in Orange County and across the world is a direct assault on the spirit of ethnic studies and on the inclusion of marginalized students in the school curriculum. With over 370,000 Arab Americans in California and 41,000 in Orange County, the inclusion of Palestine is crucial to creating a comprehensive ethnic studies course in Santa Ana that accurately represents the Arab American experience.

SAUSD must not give in to narrow political agendas and the baseless demands of anti-Palestinian groups to silence any inclusion of the Palestinian story and the actions of the Israeli state, which led to their displacement, suffering, and status as refugees worldwide.

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Show your support for SAUSD as it defends against the anti-Palestinian lawsuit.

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Santa Ana Unified School District

Subject: Support for Ethnic Studies Curriculum

Message:

I write to you today to oppose the attack on ethnic studies in SAUSD that was recently brought through a lawsuit filed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and the American Jewish Committee and to express my support for keeping Palestine and Palestinians in SAUSD’s ethnic studies curriculum. 

Although the lawsuit claims that the curriculum was developed in secrecy, it’s true intent seems to be erasing Palestinian history and silencing discussions on Israeli policies that have caused suffering for Palestinians. I wholeheartedly condemn antisemitism, but I would also like to note that false accusations of antisemitism are often used to stifle conversations about the Palestinian experience.

California implemented its K-12 ethnic studies requirement to include the histories of marginalized groups and promote diversity. With a significant Arab American population, including over 370,000 in California and 41,000 in Orange County, the Arab American experience, including Palestinian history, is crucial. The lawsuit's attempt to label any inclusion of Palestinian history as antisemitic is an effort to silence discussions about Palestinians' lived experiences and stories.

The conflation of criticism of Israel or discussions on Palestine with antisemitism is a tactic to silence those advocating for justice for Palestine. Such efforts have become more aggressive over the years, including bullying, intimidation, and unjustified lawsuits.

There are over 1,000,000 Muslims in California, with 175,000 in Orange County. Santa Ana’s inclusion of Palestine is vital, given its large Arab and Muslim population. Additionally, the city has a history of domestic terrorism aimed at suppressing discussions of Palestinian stories and Israeli state actions. The murder of Palestinian activist Alex Odeh in 1985 by suspects who live openly in Israel remains unsolved.

Organizations seeking to silence discussions about Palestine and Israeli actions have attacked critical race theory and antiracist teaching nationwide. They have threatened school districts in California that collaborate with ethnic studies scholars discussing Palestine.

These tactics are now being used by the ADL and others to pressure the Santa Ana school board to censor its ethnic studies curriculum, erasing the Palestinian experience and history. I urge the school board to resist these baseless demands and defend against the lawsuit’s allegations, ensuring that ethnic studies remain inclusive.

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