On June 13, 2024, Parents Defending Education (PDE) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of San Mateo County, California, against the Sequoia Union High School District. PDE says the district broke the California Public Records Act (CPRA) and Article I, Section 3 of the California Constitution, which give the public the right to see government records.
In early 2024, filmmaker Eli Steele released a documentary, Killing America: Can America’s Schools Be Saved? The film shows rising antisemitism in Bay Area public schools, especially at Menlo-Atherton High School. The film used photos and short video clips made by the school’s student newspaper, the M-A Chronicle. The newspaper’s editors accused Steele of copyright infringement, demanded he remove the content, and got several online platforms to take the film down. Steele said his use was protected as “fair use,” and the newspaper later chose not to sue.
PDE asked the district for records about this dispute to learn whether taxpayer dollars supported the newspaper’s efforts to silence criticism of the district. The district refused to release some of the records, citing exceptions and privileges that do not apply. PDE asks the court to order the district to hand over the records and to award attorney fees and costs.
Read the full complaint below:
