On December 5, 2024 several members of the public testified before the Board of Education against the BOE adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of Antisemitism, as the County Council did in 2022.
Former MCPS parent Evelyn Frankl stated in her testimony, “In the context of Jews and Palestinians in the US, Jews are white, thus dominant, and Palestinians are people of color”.
Former MCPS student Christina McCann stated in her testimony, ”MCPS has dangerously conflated criticism of an apartheid state that is currently carrying out a genocide with hate for Jewish people. This is antisemitic in itself” and “Adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism would further suppress antiracist learning and practices, as students and staff would be unable to identify and oppose the racism present in Israel and in Zionism”.
Ms. Frankl appears to be arguing that Jewish people do not need protection against discrimination because they are “white” and Ms. McCann appears to be arguing that not being to call Israel an apartheid state and genocidal is somehow antisemitic.
Had members of the public made similar remarks about groups such as the transgender or African American community, Board members would have responded with indignation and called out the remarks as inappropriate. The Board had no response to these testimonies.
The idea that adopting a robust definition of Antisemitism would suppress anti-racist learning and practices because students and staff would be unable to identify and oppose the racism present in Israel and in Zionism should raises questions about what the goals of “anti-racism” are at MCPS.
Full testimony:
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