A California teacher with strongly anti-Israel views recently stated that she married someone online to assist residents of Gaza in obtaining U.S. citizenship and to further pro-Palestinian agendas.
Laura Pinho, a dance instructor at Canoga Park High School, shared her marriage announcement during a CODEPINK webinar titled “Challenging Zionism in Our Schools” on June 16.
When CODEPINK activist Mercy Winograd expressed her congratulations, Pinho, 51, detailed how her marriage to Salem SE Abu Amra was meant to support “Palestinian rights and freedoms.”
“As an American citizen, I possess certain privileges. I have a fresh passport. How could I not attempt to level the playing field in any way possible?” she stated during the session, a revelation first reported by the North American Values Research Institute.
Michael Wiles, the mayor of Inglewood, New Jersey, an immigration attorney, cautioned that Pinho might be engaging in risky behavior.
“She runs the risk of facing felony charges for federal conspiracy. Marriage fraud ranks among the top five offenses alongside terrorism and drug-related crimes. It’s possible this could lead to a federal investigation,” Wiles mentioned.
Marrying for immigration purposes is illegal under U.S. law, potentially resulting in five years behind bars and fines up to $250,000, as highlighted by the Department of Justice.
The pair reportedly married in Utah on April 5, and records obtained by an Israeli nonprofit confirm this event. Utah permits virtual weddings under certain conditions.
According to public records, Pinho has a five-year-old child with Derek J. Reed, 51, who also shares her residence.
Reed mentioned to the media that he and Pinho were domestic partners and had never been officially married, living separately at the same address. He claimed to be unaware of her marriage to Abu Amra.
The couple’s relationship has apparently frayed over their differing views on Israel, with Pinho reportedly leaving the church they attended due to its stance on the conflict.
“She’s become quite radical. I don’t really understand who she’s associating with… it worries me,” Reed said.
Just a month prior to her marriage to Abu Amra, Pinho launched a GoFundMe campaign for him, stating he was the main caregiver for her family of five.
She mentioned that his daily activities included sourcing clean water and food for his family, asserting that their connection began through mutual Facebook friends, along with financial contributions she made to him.
It remains unclear if Abu Amra has made it to the U.S., with the Department of Homeland Security not responding to inquiries.
Pinho has also been involved in her school’s Palestinian Justice student club, advocating for incorporating strong anti-Israel sentiments into the dance program.
She has shared videos of students performing the Dabke dance, a traditional Palestinian dance that has gained notoriety due to its association with politically charged events, and explained its significance during instruction.
Her school, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, pays her a salary of $179,103 for the 2024 year, as per public records.
Pinho has openly supported student participation in anti-Israel demonstrations, believing students should be empowered to advocate for their beliefs.
Pinho has a documented history of posting anti-Semitic content on social media.
In one instance, she shared a post alleging that the U.S. government is under the influence of “satanic pedophiles” acting in the interests of Israel.
Additionally, she shared another post claiming that the establishment of Israel was orchestrated by “evil bankers” and propagated the conspiracy theory linking modern Jews to a different lineage.
In a February post, she included a video featuring controversial podcaster Candace Owens who made incendiary claims about Jewish people, captioning it with a question that suggests she aligns with these views.
The newly married couple, it seems, may share similar beliefs; Abu Amra has been known to praise members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad on social media.
Micah Hackner, the research director at Navi, warned parents about the implications of Pinho’s actions.
Neither Pinho nor the Los Angeles Unified School District responded to requests for comments.
