A new report from the Defense of Freedom Institute details how anti-Semitic activists infiltrated and redirected the agendas of major teacher unions in the United States, turning them into platforms for anti-Israel activism. The report accuses union leadership of promoting radical curricula, intimidating Jewish educators, and erasing Holocaust education while pushing a narrative that vilifies Israel.
The report highlights how, in the wake of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, teacher unions quickly aligned with anti-Israel rhetoric. Within weeks, unions organized walkouts, “teach-ins,” and adopted resolutions condemning Israel. Some events featured slogans such as “from the river to the sea,” widely recognized as a call for the elimination of the Jewish state. Jewish students and teachers reportedly faced backlash and pressure to remain silent.
Paul Zimmerman’s investigation points to union-aligned activists inserting political indoctrination into K–12 classrooms. These efforts included materials portraying Israel as a colonizing oppressor, minimizing Hamas terrorism, and excluding Jewish historical narratives. The report claims that union leaders are using their positions to push ideological agendas, often without the knowledge or consent of their broader membership.
The shift marks a dramatic departure from the unions’ historical stance. In the mid-20th century, American teacher unions frequently supported Jewish educators and promoted solidarity with Israel’s labor movement. According to the report, this tradition eroded as far-left activists gained influence, transforming unions from worker advocacy groups into vehicles for progressive activism.
The Defense of Freedom Institute calls for immediate reforms. Recommendations include federal hearings by congressional education committees and a review of the National Education Association’s federal charter. The report also urges individual educators to reconsider union membership if leadership continues supporting anti-Israel positions.
This investigation underscores a growing trend of political activism replacing educational priorities within union leadership. It raises serious questions about the misuse of public education structures to promote biased narratives and target religious minorities.
