As the movement for Palestinian liberation gains traction, Congress is pressuring K-12 school districts to address “antisemitism” by silencing pro-Palestine voices. In Livingston, New Jersey, a small group of activists faced hostility at a Board of Education meeting after the superintendent’s pro-Israel delegation trip. Harassment and threats against pro-Palestine teachers like Ro from Teaching While Muslim have escalated post-October 7. Similar suppression is happening in schools across New Jersey, with pro-Israel advocates targeting students and teachers who advocate for Palestine.
The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ has influenced the removal of pro-Palestine content from school curricula, including pulling a novel by a Palestinian author from Newark Public Schools. Critics argue that organizations like the Federation are stifling free speech and empowering right-wing movements, leading to the erosion of advocacy for other oppressed communities. Pro-Palestine advocates like Ro and Geoff Johnson are pushing back, emphasizing the need to resist these efforts to silence marginalized voices in education.
In the face of increasing backlash, pro-Palestine teachers and activists continue to fight for Palestinian liberation and against censorship and intimidation in schools.