School Clubs Sponsored by Organizations that Have Taken a Stand against Israel

Investigations

SUMMARY

Throughout the country, K-12 schools facilitate activities and clubs that appeal to student interests and hobbies. While most of the clubs are focused on academic, career, or languages, there is a growing trend of school clubs dedicated to social justice activism, including on the issue of Israel and Palestine.

Below is a breakdown of five organizations with strong anti-Israel or pro-Palestine positions that sponsor clubs in K-12 schools. Also included is a non-comprehensive list of school districts that have one or more of these clubs or student organizations.

EXAMPLES

Amnesty International

Amnesty International states that it is “committed to creating a future where human rights are enjoyed by everyone.” On February 19, 2024, it called for Israel to “end its occupation of Palestine to stop fuelling [sic] apartheid and systemic human rights violations.”

On November 9, 2023, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne warned schools to “avoid antisemitic and anti-American UNICEF and Amnesty International materials.” According to the press release, the “Department of Education was recently contacted by several community members who had learned of antisemitic and anti-American materials being presented a [sic] lunchtime student club sponsored by those organizations last Thursday at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale.”

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Arab Youth Organizing

Arab Youth Organizing (AYO) is the youth wing of parent organization Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC). In October, AROC and AYO called for a “National Day of Action” and “Student Walkout for Gaza” and provided high school students with a “Student Walk Out for Palestine Toolkit.”

AROC states on its website that it “holds the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence we’ve witnessed across historic Palestine.”

AROC is a fiscal project of the Tides Foundation.

GSA Network

On January 23, 2024, the GSA Network, the parent organization of many Genders & Sexualities Alliance clubs across the country, posted a demand for a “Ceasefire Now” and that it “reaffirms that the liberation of Palestine is a trans, queer, and two-spirit issue.” It continues: “The work of GSA clubs and TQ2S youth leaders is connected to a history of international solidarity, recognizing that all people, especially our youth, are deeply affected by the intersections of global capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy.”

Read the full report on Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) clubs here.

Sunrise Movement

The Sunrise Movement is a national non-profit organization that states it is the “climate revolution.” It claims that it “will force the government to end the era of fossil fuel elites, invest in Black, brown and working class [sic] communities, and create millions of good union jobs.” The organization promotes the adoption of the Green New Deal which is “one step in the project of collective liberation.”

On April 26, 2024, the Sunrise Movement posted on social media “FREE PALESTINE” and “Sending strength and love to our Sunrise organizers at encampments all across the country. Our generation will not be silenced.”

Young Democratic Socialists of America

The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) is the youth arm of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). On May 1, 2024, the YDSA stated that it “calls on everyone everywhere to join the fight for Palestine –support students, take to the streets! There are actions you can support across the country to stand up with workers for Palestine. As workers, we are all united and will not be defeated.”

Read the full report on the DSA and YDSA here.

LIST OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS

ALABAMA

Vestavia Hills City Schools

ALASKA

Anchorage School District

ARIZONA

Cave Creek Unified School District

Chandler Unified School District

Scottsdale Unified School District

ARKANSAS

Jonesboro Public Schools

CALIFORNIA

Berkeley Unified School District

El Dorado Union High School District

El Monte Union High School District

Glendora Unified School District

Golden Valley Unified School District

Los Angeles Unified School District

Lucia Mar Unified School District

Oakland Unified School District

Riverside Unified School District

Roseville Joint Union High School District

Rowland Unified School District

San Francisco Unified School District

Walnut Valley Unified School District

West Contra Costa Unified School District

COLORADO

Cherry Creek School District

Poudre School District

CONNECTICUT

Branford Public Schools

Ledyard Public Schools

Naugatuck Public Schools

Wethersfield Public Schools

FLORIDA

Broward County Public Schools

Miami-Dade Public Schools

School District of Palm Beach County

GEORGIA

Forsyth County Schools

Fulton County Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools

IDAHO

Blaine County School District

ILLINOIS

Barrington Community Unit School District 220

Batavia Public School District 101

Chicago Public Schools

Hinsdale Township High School District 86

Illinois Math and Science Academy (Amnesty International)

Maine Township District 207

Naperville Community Unit School District 203

IOWA

Johnston Community School District

LOUISIANA

Lafayette Parish School System

MAINE

Five Town Schools

MARYLAND

Howard County Public School System

Montgomery County Public Schools

MASSACHUSETTS

Advanced Math & Science Academy (Amnesty International)

Ashland Public Schools

Belmont Public Schools

Brockton Public Schools

Burlington Public Schools

Concord-Carlisle Regional School District

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District

Pembroke Public Schools

Shrewsbury Public Schools

MICHIGAN

Crestwood School District

MINNESOTA

Shakopee Public Schools

MONTANA

Missoula County Public Schools

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Gilford School District

NEW JERSEY

Cherry Hill Schools

Franklin Township Public Schools

Hunterdon Central Regional High School District

Lenape Regional High School District

Monmouth Regional High School District

Monroe Township School District

Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District

Rutherford Public Schools

South Brunswick School District

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque Public Schools

NEW YORK

Baldwinsville Central School District

Bethlehem Central School District

East Greenbush Central School District

Guilderland Central School District

Katonah-Lewisboro School District

New York City Public Schools

Pittsford Schools

Saratoga Springs City School District

West Irondequoit School District

OREGON

Tigard-Tualatin School District

PENNSYLVANIA

Easton Area School District

Gettysburg Area School District

Lower Merion School District

Owen J. Roberts School District

West Shore School District

TENNESSEE

Williamson County Schools

TEXAS

Austin Independent School District

Dallas Independent School District

Houston Independent School District

VIRGINIA

Arlington Public Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools

Loudoun County Public Schools

Prince William County Public Schools

WASHINGTON

Lake Washington School District

WISCONSIN

Grafton School District