Surge of Antisemitism Reported in California's 'Progressive' K-12 Schools

Jewish students and educators face hostility in communities that claim to champion tolerance

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:18am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a Jewish Star of David symbol repeated in a tight grid pattern, with the symbol rendered in vibrant neon colors overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines, conceptually representing the demonization of Jewish identity and symbols in California's education system.The weaponization of Jewish identity and symbols in California's 'progressive' schools exposes the hypocrisy of those who claim to champion tolerance.Santa Ana Today

Jewish students and educators in K-12 schools across California are experiencing a surge of antisemitism, often in proudly 'progressive' communities. Far-left groups like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which have gained influence in teachers unions, are promoting anti-Westernism, anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Zionism - all of which often lead to antisemitism. Jewish identity itself has become suspect in many progressive circles, with Jewish students reporting they hide their identity and connection to Israel to avoid being branded 'colonizers,' 'oppressors,' or 'genocide supporters'.

Why it matters

The problem has become so severe that civil rights groups have filed lawsuits against the state of California, the California State Board of Education, and state education officials, alleging that they have failed to protect Jewish students from persistent antisemitism in public schools. This highlights the troubling reality that the very communities that claim to champion tolerance and inclusivity have become breeding grounds for a hypocritical form of the world's oldest hatred.

The details

Complaints of antisemitism in California's K-12 schools have repeatedly been denied, ignored, and covered up. Anti-Zionist narratives, which falsely portray Jews as 'foreign colonizers' in Israel and Israel as a 'uniquely violent, racist pariah,' have become commonplace. These distortions of history and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are used to dehumanize the Jewish state and, by extension, Jewish students and educators. The libels have reached a point where false 'genocide' allegations against Israel are being used to virtue signal and weaponize Holocaust education against the Jewish community.

  • In 2023, a lawsuit against the Santa Ana School District succeeded in prohibiting the district from pushing antisemitic materials in class.
  • In 2026, civil rights groups joined a lawsuit against the state of California, the California State Board of Education, the state Department of Education, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on behalf of Jewish parents whose children have faced persistent antisemitism in California public schools.

The players

StandWithUs

A nonpartisan international nonprofit organization that fights antisemitism, educates about Israel, and has joined litigation against California over antisemitism in public schools.

Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law

A civil rights organization that joined the lawsuit against California on behalf of Jewish parents whose children have faced persistent antisemitism in public schools.

Tony Thurmond

The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, named as a defendant in the lawsuit over the state's failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.

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What they’re saying

“Stopping all forms of antisemitism –– not just swastikas and classic slurs –– starts in K-12 schools. Antisemitism is ultimately a conspiracy theory, and when conspiracism takes hold, societies lose the capacity to address their largest challenges.”

— Mitch Siegler, Founder and CEO of THINC Foundation

“The best education teaches students language, math, science, history, and civics without superimposing ideological narratives. It addresses controversies with facts and context, presenting students with differing perspectives and the ability to evaluate them.”

— David Smokler, Executive Director of the K-12 Fairness Center at StandWithUs

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the lawsuit against the state of California to proceed, which could force the state to take concrete steps to address the persistent antisemitism in its public school system.

The takeaway

This case highlights the troubling reality that the very communities that claim to champion tolerance and inclusivity have become breeding grounds for a hypocritical form of the world's oldest hatred. It underscores the urgent need for California's education system to address controversies with facts and context, rather than imposing ideological narratives that demonize Jewish students and their connection to Israel.