An atmosphere in which ‘Jewish and Israeli students were labeled as being complicit’ in Israel’s actions
An investigation into an Oakland, California English teacher’s conduct recently concluded he created a “divisive” and “unwelcoming” environment for Jewish students.
The independent probe found Arvind Reddy of Montera Middle School had “posted ‘antisemitic materials’ in and near his classroom” during the previous school year, The Jewish News of Northern California reports.
The posters (pictured) — which Reddy “refused to take down” — read “END GENOCIDE NOW,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and Nelson Mandela’s quote “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
Another poster showed “La Pietà di Michelangelo” a painting depicting Christ dying in Mary’s arms which Reddy surrounded with “photos of Palestinian victims.”
A local rabbi said the painting “references Christians blaming Jews for Jesus’ death,” a district student paper, The Bay Area Telegraph, noted.
The catalyst for the investigation was a complaint filed by Oakland lawyer Marleen Sacks. According to The Mercury News, OUSD Ombudsman Gabriel Valenzuela said Reddy’s posters “focused on the deaths of Palestinians and calls to free Palestine and did not provide any information from either Israel or supporters of Israel.”
As such they “created an environment in which Jewish and Israeli students were labeled as being complicit in the harm Reddy associated with Israel,” Valenzuela added. “The variety in age, religious background and affiliation with the district of those who complained indicates that the posters were reasonably perceived to be anti-Semitic and divisive.”
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In a statement, Reddy claimed the posters “took a firm stance against Israel’s actions related to what they described as the ‘genocide’ of Palestinian individuals.”
According to Valenzuela, Reddy was unwilling to work with the school and the district to “come up with solutions that would make Reddy comfortable and soothe the campus environment.”
In a statement, Sacks said “it was obvious the teacher’s actions were inappropriate and discriminatory.”
Sacks also criticized the school district for not completing the investigation sooner.
“It should not have taken over a year to make these findings,” Sacks said. “Dozens of Jewish families have already fled the district because of ongoing anti-Semitism and anti-Israel indoctrination. Offensive posters and flags continue to be displayed in teacher classrooms, school hallways and administrative offices, and the district is doing nothing about it.”
Valenzuela confirmed Reddy “is no longer employed as a teacher” in the district.
The Jewish News report notes teachers unions in Oakland and San Francisco had issued statements condemning Israel early in its war against Hamas, but never mentioned the latter’s initial attack which murdered over 1,200 Israelis.
Members of the Oakland Education Association also created an “Educational Resources on Palestine” teaching guide, and some held an “unsanctioned” Israel-critical “teach-in” in December of 2023, the “main focus” of which was watching a livestream where individuals “describ[ed] their activism against Israel and advocacy for Palestinians.”
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IMAGE: The Bay Area Telegraph
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