The United Teachers Los Angeles union decided against putting a motion supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to a vote.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency reporter Ben Sales tweeted that the union had said the vote was “indefinitely postponed” during UTLA’s September 23 meeting. According to Louis Keene, reporter for The Forward, the final vote was 94 in favor of the indefinite suspension of the vote and 35 against.
UTLA, the largest Los Angeles teachers' union, just voted to not hold a vote on BDS. It will be "postponed indefinitely." https://t.co/D18VkvHHxe
— Ben Sales (@BenjaminSales) September 24, 2021
Vote on the subsidiary motion to table the BDS resolution indefinitely passes (94 yes, 35 no) in the UTLA House of Representatives.
— Louis Keene (@thislouis) September 24, 2021
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles issued a subsequent statement expressing “our appreciation to the Board of Directors of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and the House of Representatives of UTLA for rejecting BDS and antisemitism to end the one-sided and derogatory anti-Israel motion introduced by some of its members this past May. We are grateful that UTLA’s leadership has heard our community’s voices and the voices of hundreds of UTLA members who spoke out against the motion and stood strong against antisemitism. We look forward to continuing to work with UTLA leadership to ensure zero tolerance toward antisemitism, as well as understanding the problematic nature of the BDS movement.” The Federation had partnered with the American Jewish Committee Los Angeles, ADL [Anti-Defamation League] Los Angeles, the Board of Rabbis Southern California, the Holocaust Museum LA, the Israeli-American Council, and StandWithUs on the matter.
ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey I. Abrams said in a statement, “The original motion made very problematic claims and biased assumptions, including blaming this Spring’s outbreak of violence solely on Israel, while ignoring the violence and provocation from Hamas, a terrorist organization.
“In light of the spike of the recent spike in antisemitic incidents across the world, including here in Los Angeles, we are glad that the leadership of a body tasked with educating all children in our public school community. We want to thank all those stakeholders who successfully raised their collective voices and spoke out against this biased proposal including LAUSD [Los Angeles Unified School District] parents and teachers, as well as other community members.”
We are pleased that @UTLAnow has tabled this motion filled with biased anti-Israel distortions and thank all those stakeholders who successfully raised their collective voices and spoke out against this resolution, including @LASchools parents, teachers, and community members. https://t.co/Xv6ULotnlP pic.twitter.com/lGS1oHPLaw
— ADL Southern California (@ADLSoCal) September 24, 2021
Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper called the vote “a great victory for the children of Los Angeles and defeat for haters of Israel!”
The Israel-American Civic Action Network, UTLA Caucus for Israel and California Students United also issued a press release featuring a quote from LAUSD teacher Jennifer Grunfeld stating, “Being the granddaughter highlighting their advocacy on the matter and featured a quote of an Auschwitz survivor, hearing the outpouring of support for a motion that segregates us has been quite disappointing. Following tonight’s vote, I’m grateful that there are still good people in the world that see a place for all teachers and all students to learn in a safe environment.”
American Jewish Committee Los Angeles Regional Director Richard S. Hirschhaut said in a statement to the Journal, “We are gratified that common sense and fairness have prevailed within the ranks of UTLA leadership. The original resolution was a divisive measure that would have created a toxic and incendiary learning environment throughout LAUSD. Through the principled and courageous leadership of teachers, parents, and countless community members, a positive example has been set for our students and the principle of educational integrity. Going forward, it will be incumbent upon us all to make the most of this ‘teachable moment.’”
UTLA is the largest teachers union in Los Angeles and is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers union.
