National Education Association Votes to Boycott ADL Materials

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the U.S., voted on a non-binding measure to ban the use, endorsement, or promotion of materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), including its Holocaust curriculum and antisemitism resources. This move, supported by the NEA caucus Educators for Palestine, is seen as a response to perceived Israel bias in ADL materials and has sparked significant backlash from Jewish organizations and civil rights groups, who argue that the ban marginalizes Jewish voices and undermines efforts to combat antisemitism in schools. The ADL and NEA leadership, including NEA President Rebecca Pringle and ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, have engaged in discussions following the vote, stressing the importance of addressing antisemitism. Over 370 Jewish organizations have sent letters urging the NEA Executive Committee to reverse the decision, warning that the ban could harm Jewish students and educators and limit educators' access to vital anti-hate resources. Critics of the ban also highlight the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The NEA's final decision still awaits approval by its executive committee, with concerns that the ban would restrict millions of educators from using ADL's educational materials.