Activist NYC teachers organization schedules ‘Teach-in for Palestine’ on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Controversial “Teach-In for Palestine” Planned for Young Students

A group of radical educators in New York City is organizing a “teach-in for Palestine,” targeting six-year-old students on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This event marks the beginning of a six-part series run by NYC Educators for Palestine, which claims to offer nutritious meals and “age-appropriate lessons from trained educators and mental health professionals” for children aged 6 to 18.

The choice of January 19 is somewhat ironic, considering that MLK supported the Jewish state.

The online registration describes a program where students will explore the history, significance, and context of Zionism, notably with “Zionism” not capitalized.

As of now, the specific location for the first Teach-In by the North American Values Institute hasn’t been revealed, though past events have taken place at the People’s Forum and the Brooklyn Museum.

“These teach-ins are simply attempts to indoctrinate young people with anti-Jewish sentiment,” Karen Feldman, president of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, remarked. “They enjoy food and drink, then receive inflammatory materials and documents supporting Hamas.”

“There’s a real worry that some educators in NYC are pushing anti-Semitic curricula, fostering hostility towards Jewish students. How can we ensure children, even those as young as 6, feel safe when exposed to such indoctrination?” Moshe Spern, president of the Jewish Federation of Teachers, stated.

Mayor Mamdani, who has openly opposed the Jewish state, promoted a protest linked to this group on his Instagram last December.

Past instances include extremist teacher groups arranging school strikes against Israel. For example, in May, around 350 students gathered outside the Department of Education headquarters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The group’s mission statement urges students to “resist actions and rhetoric that advocate for the ongoing occupation of Palestine.” It characterizes the Jewish state as “settler colonialism” responsible for the violent removal of Palestinians from their land.

Furthermore, the statement endorses the “internationally recognized right of all occupied peoples to resist,” which some interpret as support for Hamas, the group responsible for the deaths of 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.

Just two weeks before his assassination, Dr. King spoke to a gathering of rabbis, declaring, “Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to defend Israel’s right to exist… I view Israel as a shining example of what can be achieved, transforming a desert into a model of democracy and brotherhood.”

Officials from the Education Department indicated that these teach-ins are not authorized and cannot be conducted on school premises. They plan to remind school principals next week about the necessity of political neutrality in educational settings.

NYC Educators for Palestine collaborates closely with the Movement of General Educators (MORE), a far-left faction within the American Federation of Teachers.

Mika Hackner, research director at Navi, stated, “These educators are misusing their authority and the public’s trust to promote their agendas under the guise of education.”