The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is challenging a new California law aimed at protecting Jewish students from discrimination, arguing that it is unconstitutionally vague and violates free speech rights.
According to The Associated Press, the federal lawsuit, filed Sunday in San Jose, seeks to strike down legislation signed last month by Gov. Gavin Newsom that creates an Office of Civil Rights to help schools identify and prevent antisemitism. Lawmakers passed the measure amid heightened political tensions in the U.S. over Israel’s war in Gaza.
The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, does not define antisemitism — a key issue in the lawsuit. Plaintiffs say the lack of clarity could lead educators to fear discrimination charges “if they expose their students to ideas, information, and instructional materials that may be considered critical of the State of Israel and the philosophy of Zionism,” according to the complaint.
Jenin Younes, the ADC’s national legal director, said the uncertainty surrounding the law is already chilling speech among teachers.
“They censor themselves very broadly because they don’t know what’s going to get them into trouble,” she said.
The case was filed on behalf of several California public school teachers and students, as well as the group Los Angeles Educators for Justice in Palestine.
Among the plaintiffs is Jonah Olson, a middle school science teacher who says students in his rural, largely Christian district often ask what it means to be Jewish. Olson said he explains that his faith “does not include support for the State of Israel,” but now fears that statement could violate the new law.
Parents involved in the lawsuit argue the measure could prevent their children from being exposed to diverse perspectives about Israel, Palestinians, and the broader Middle East.
Supporters of the law say it is necessary given a rise in antisemitic harassment across U.S. schools. The Anti-Defamation League reported 860 antisemitic incidents — including harassment, vandalism, and assault — at non-Jewish K-12 schools nationwide last year. While that figure represents a 26% drop from 2023, it remains significantly higher than the 494 incidents reported in 2022.
