US court dismisses free speech challenge to California’s school antisemitism law
JTA — A California law to prevent antisemitism in schools will be enforced after a federal judge dismissed a challenge from teachers and students who said it violated free speech.US District Judge Noël Wise on Tuesday ruled against a lawsuit opposing Assembly Bill 715, which went into effect in January. The new law introduces measures to curb the “widespread surge in antisemitic discrimination, harassment and bullying” faced by “Jewish and Israeli American pupils across California.”As part of the law, California is establishing an Office of Civil Rights with a new statewide antisemitism prevention coordinator for public schools, who has not yet been appointed. The law mandates teachers to provide “factually accurate” instruction rather than “advocacy, personal opinion, bias, or partisanship.” It requires local educational agencies to take action if they find that instruction or school-sponsored materials are discriminatory.A group of teachers, students and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed a challenge…
A federal judge in California has dismissed a free speech challenge against Assembly Bill 715, a state law designed to combat antisemitism in schools. The law, which took effect in January, aims to address "widespread surge in antisemitic discrimination, harassment and bullying" against Jewish and Israeli American students. It mandates "factually accurate" instruction and establishes an Office of Civil Rights with an antisemitism prevention coordinator.
"Teacher Plaintiffs are not acting as private citizens and therefore do not have First Amendment rights while teaching,"
U.S. District Judge Noël Wise ruled that claims of the law being vague or discriminatory were premature, citing uncertainties about the new office's implementation. She also stated that teachers do not have First Amendment rights while teaching. Opponents, including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, expressed concerns that the law chills classroom discussions about Palestinians, while the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco praised the ruling as affirming a legitimate approach to protecting students.
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