National Education Association Rejects Anti-Defamation League Boycott Amid Rising Antisemitism

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers' union in the U.S., decided not to implement a recently passed member resolution to boycott the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), preserving access to its educational materials on antisemitism and Holocaust education. Despite the NEA Representative Assembly's vote to bar members from endorsing or using ADL resources, the union's executive committee and board concluded that the proposal would not advance academic freedom or serve the union's goals, especially amid rising antisemitism and tensions linked to the Gaza conflict. NEA President Becky Pringle emphasized that the decision was not an endorsement of the ADL's full body of work but a call for the ADL to support free speech and association rights. The move followed consultations with diverse community leaders, including Jewish-American and Arab-American civil rights groups, as well as backlash from roughly 400 Jewish organizations and elected officials who warned the boycott would undermine efforts to combat hate in schools. Critics of the board’s reversal accused the leadership of ignoring the democratic vote and succumbing to pressure from pro-Israel advocacy groups. The controversy underscores the challenges educators face in balancing political sensitivities, academic freedom, and combating antisemitism during an increasingly polarized period.