Minneapolis Teachers Union Accused Of Promoting Antisemitism

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers is being accused of releasing an antisemitic statement regarding the Israeli-Hamas war.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota is now "demanding action from MPS leadership regarding the antisemitic 'Israel-Palestine' resolution passed by the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers."

On Nov. 14, MFT Local 59 shared its resolution that stated the following:

MFT mourns the loss of innocent life in Israel and occupied Palestine. We categorically reject violence against all civilians whether Israeli or Palestinian. We therefore call for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and to de-escalate the conflict. As Americans, we also condemn the role our government plays in supporting the system of Israeli occupation and apartheid, which lies at the root of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Finally, we call on the Minnesota State Legislature to repeal anti-BDS (boycott, divest, sanctions) legislation as it stifles free speech and discriminates against Palestinian refugees, their families, and their supporters. The BDS movement is a peaceful and powerful way to affect lasting, positive change in the region.

JCRC has called on Superintendent Rochelle Cox and the Minneapolis school board to publicly distance the district from the "antisemitic and hostile" MFT resolution.

"There's nothing they can possibly do or not do that's going to make any difference on what's happening over in Israel and Gaza," Ethan Roberts, JCRC's deputy executive director, told the Star Tribune.

"But what they are doing is having a tangible, destructive impact on Jewish teachers, Jewish students, Jewish parents, and others."

Roberts also spoke about how Jewish teachers in Minneapolis feel alienated as a result of the resolution, telling KSTP "I have talked with so many Jewish teachers who just don’t understand why their own union is standing against them."

But Jaylani Hussein, who runs the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said it's actually Islamophobic not to speak about the struggles of the Palestinians.

Both JCRC and CAIR-MN have reported recent spikes in antisemitism and Islamophobic incidents in schools since Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.