Local opinion: Governor Hobbs wrong to veto Antisemitism in Education Act

Governor Hobbs was wrong last month to veto Arizona HB 2867, the Antisemitism in Education Act. The veto was a serious mistake that gives a green light to those already espousing antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation within Arizona’s schools. Rather than “attacking our teachers” as Hobbs suggested, HB 2867 would have made those practicing antisemitism and intimidation of Jews accountable.

Jewish students in public schools and on college campuses have borne the brunt of intensifying antisemitism, one of the oldest and most dangerous forms of hatred. Following the October 7 Hamas attack, Jewish students have been subjected to bullying, vandalism, and intimidation — perpetrated by both fellow students and some educators. A month after the October 7 invasion, a high school event in Scottsdale praised the Hamas terrorists, further exposing the need for greater oversight, not less.

The recent resolution against the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) adopted by the nation’s largest teacher’s union, the National Education Association’s (NEA), is further proof that Hobbs’ veto was misguided. The resolution prohibits NEA members from using any Holocaust education and related materials published by ADL. For Jews, ADL is akin to the NAACP for Blacks, offering exemplar instructional material for students and teachers to assist in understanding complex issues of bigotry and prejudice, including content on antisemitism and Jewish identity.

The reason given for the NEA resolution was not ADL’s educational materials, but its support of Zionism, the political, cultural, and nationalist movement that supports the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. The newly adopted policy of the nation’s preeminent teachers union will deprive schools of the very resources they need to combat antisemitism, and in itself suggests an antisemitic stance. At the same time, its enactment makes Governor Hobbs an unwitting accomplice of NEA prejudice.

Throughout history, Jew-hatred has left scars on civilization through the Crusades, Inquisitions, pogroms, and the Holocaust. Yet, antisemitism is not merely a relic of the past — it continues to echo into the present. The return of Jewish self-determination in Israel has, for some, provided an opportunity to disguise long-standing prejudices as political critique, falsely conflating Jews everywhere with the actions of the Israeli government. The definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016 was enshrined in Arizona law in 2022. It acknowledges that many antisemites today see no distinction between Jews, Judaism, and the state of Israel. The IHRA definition of antisemitism has a direct bearing on the recent NEA action, since it applies to all Arizona public agencies, including education authorities.

Governor Hobbs’ attempt to rationalize vetoing HB 2867 is puzzling. By arguing that the bill would “attack our teachers,” she implies that holding teachers accountable for antisemitic acts would create undue burden. But Arizona law already holds educators accountable for their behavior in the classroom. Should we, as a state, be willing to offer a “free pass” to teachers who engage in or encourage antisemitism? Should Arizonans not expect its educators to know right from wrong? Moreover, Hobbs pointed to the State Board of Education as the proper forum for addressing antisemitic incidents. This alternative is ineffective and fundamentally flawed, though to some extent correct. The Board of Education has limited authority, with complaints often referred back to local school authorities, portending possible retaliation against students and parents who bring complaints forward.

Governor Hobbs, it is time to reaffirm that Arizona stands for diversity, safety, and dignity for all people — Jewish or not. Antisemitism — no matter the form it takes — must be confronted head-on, whether it occurs in our schools, on social media, or in public discourse. Freedom of speech is a cherished right, but so is the right to be free from fear and bigotry. HB 2867 would ensure that education about the Holocaust stays focused on historical truth, freed from political and personal prejudices. Demand that HB 2867 be reintroduced in the state legislature. And when it comes before you again, sign it into law.