AB 715: Impact of California’s Pro-Israel Censorship Bill Explained

"This is a slap in the face to the Palestinian community.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom, while posing as a champion of free speech, earlier this month signed a law that empowers the state to crack down on public school teachers who criticize Israel in their classrooms. The bill AB 715 establishes a new “Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator" with vague powers — and was unanimously opposed by teachers’ unions, education advocacy groups and civil rights organizations.

“The state of Israel recognizes that they are losing massive support, especially amongst the younger generation,” explained Mohamed Shehk, organizing director AROC, in conversation with Seth Morrison of Jewish Voice for Peace. “They are doing everything that they can to try and control and censor any kind of discussion about what Israel is doing, about the struggle of the Palestinians.” Morrison, commenting on the power of the Israeli lobby in the state legislature, said, “It’s such a misuse of who we are and what antisemitism really is.”