Horne says veto of antisemitism bill is terrible error

Effort aimed at combating problems in schools

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says Governor Hobbs’ veto of bipartisan legislation addressing antisemitism in public school classrooms is a terrible error that does not take into account the growing amount of antisemitism nationwide.

Horne said, “This is a terrible error in judgment on the part of the Governor. This bipartisan legislation was vital for ensuring that public schools cannot infect students with antisemitic propaganda and her veto is a slap at the Jewish community and those who fight every day against racism. Representative Michael Way worked tirelessly to shepherd this bill through the legislature, getting support from both parties. This bill should have been signed into law.”

He added, “Our country has been witnessing a large and steady increase in antisemitism. Studies show that it is much more so among young people than among the older generation. It is not true that there are no instances of teachers in Arizona schools teaching antisemitism. At Desert Mountain High School, the sponsor of UNICEF and the sponsor of Amnesty International, both teachers, brought to the school a totally one-sided pro Hamas anti-Israel presentation which caused some impressionable students to develop antisemitic feelings, which made Jewish students uncomfortable. The antisemitism has become more and more violent, as illustrated by the murder of two Jewish people in Washington and an attempt to murder by burning alive Jewish people in Colorado.”

Sponsored by Rep. Michael Way, HB 2867, the Antisemitism in Education Act was passed on a bipartisan basis by the state legislature. The measure was designed to prohibit a public school, teacher, principal, school administrator or volunteer or contractor for a public school and a faculty member, administrator, employee, contractor, or volunteer of a higher education institution from:

• Teaching, instructing or training students in any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct that constitutes harassment or discrimination and that creates a hostile education or work environment.
• Promoting or providing professional development in any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct that constitutes harassment or discrimination and that creates a hostile education or work environment.
• Calling for genocide of any group or persons or for the murder of members of a particular group, among other provisions.