ADL study: Jewish teachers report widespread antisemitism, self-censorship in US unions
A new ADL study of Jewish members of US teachers' unions found widespread reports of anti-Jewish hostility, with most respondents saying they feel pressure to self-censor
The Anti-Defamation League conducted a mixed-methods study surveying 307 Jewish members of US teachers' unions, combined with qualitative focus groups, to examine the scope of antisemitism within these organizations. The report found that Jewish educators, once part of institutions built on labor solidarity, increasingly describe experiences of alienation and exclusion.
According to the findings, 73.3% of respondents said union statements on the Israel-Hamas war that fail to condemn Hamas or the October 7, 2023 attacks are a problem in their union, while 71% said resolutions accusing Israel of apartheid, genocide or ethnic cleansing are problematic, and 68.1% cited calls to cut ties with mainstream Jewish organizations.
Over the past 12 months, 53.4% of respondents reported inconsistent enforcement of anti-harassment norms when Jews or Zionists were targeted, 51.8% said they witnessed minimization or denial of the October 7 attacks, and 48.9% said they had heard "Zionist" used as a slur. Additionally, 43.7% reported seeing speakers who justify violence against Jews or Israel platformed at union events.
The study found that fear of backlash is driving many Jewish members to conceal their views or identity. Some 70% of respondents said raising concerns about the treatment of Jews in union spaces could carry reputational or professional consequences, and 73.6% said they feel a need to self-censor.
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Among those who raised concerns with union leadership, the ADL found deep dissatisfaction: 69.1% said they were not at all satisfied with the response they received, and no respondent said they were extremely satisfied.
The report also found that more than a quarter of respondents, 28.3%, said their union had sponsored or promoted programming related to Jews, Zionists or Israel in the past year, and that 78.2% of those respondents viewed the programming as biased against Jews, Zionists or Israel.
Despite the findings, the report noted that Jewish members are largely seeking reform rather than disengagement. The most commonly requested changes included clear condemnation of threats and harassment against Jews by union leadership (75.9%), balanced antisemitism education (73.3%), stronger guardrails against harassment tied to Jewish identity or Zionism (71.7%), and a shift away from union resolutions on foreign conflicts (67.4%).
The ADL said the findings reflect a broader rise in antisemitism across American civic institutions since October 7, and called on teachers union leaders to take concrete steps to protect Jewish members and refocus union activity on core labor issues.