Thursday July 3rd at 7:00 pm via zoom – David Mandel from
Jewish Voice of Peace will speak about AB 715 that
will be heard in the Senate Education Committee next
week on July 9th
Time: Jul 3, 2025 07:00 PM Pacific Time
Join Zoom Meeting here
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87918697295?pwd=dy85L0ZBdmJhQ2lFcG5NVXlkYmYwQT09
Meeting ID: 879 1869 7295
Passcode: 703395
Dial by your location
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
• +1 669 444 9171 US
Meeting ID: 879 1869 7295
Passcode: 703395
Please scroll down below to get more information on how you can oppose AB 715. (You can make phone calls, write a letter via the position portal, email the Senate Education Committee members, and attend the hearing on July 9th at 8:00 to state your opposition. )
RSVP and let us know you’re coming! bit.ly/JUL9AB715
On Wednesday, July 9th, the CA Senate Education Committee will be holding a hearing on AB 715, a dangerous piece of legislation that will threaten teachers, attack public education, and censor classroom material and discussion about Palestine in K-12 schools. CAIR, AROC, JVP, and the many organizations with the CA Coalition to Defend Public Education are calling on communities to pack the house and demand that decision makers say NO to this harmful and repressive censorship bill.
Hearing Date and Location:
– Wed, July 9, 2025 @ 8AM
– 1021 O St, Room 2100, Sacramento, CA
You can also submit comments to the Senate Education Committee in advance via the position letter portal below:
Make Calls TODAY to Oppose AB 715!
Phone numbers of the Senate Education Committee below
Sen. Mike McGuire, Senate President Pro Tempore (SD 2)
(916) 651-4002
Sen. Renee Sasha Perez, Chair of Senate Education Committee, Latino Caucus, and LGBTQ Caucus (SD 25)
(916) 651-4025
Sen. Roscilici Ochoa Bogh, Vice Chair of Senate Education Committee (SD 19)
(916) 651-4019
Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, API Caucus, LGBT Caucus, and Senate Education Committee (SD 3)
(916) 651-4003
Sen. Lena Gonzalez, Senate Majority leader, Chair Latino Caucus, and Senate Education Committee (SD 33)
(916) 651-4033
Sen. Steven Choi, Senate Education Committee (SD 37)
(916) 651-4037
Sen. David Cortese, Senate Education Committee
(916) 651-4015
Sen. Eloise Gomez Reyes, Senate Education Committee and Latino Caucus (SD 29)
(916) 651-4029
URGENT ACTION FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS!! TIME SENSITIVE
Urgent Action 1: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-ca-senator-to-stop-the-antizionism-antisemitism-bill
And send a letter to the Urgent Action 2: Write a letter to the Senate Education Committee via the position portal. Note that you have to register to use this portal – either as a registered lobbyist, an individual affiliated with an organization or as an individual.
—— sample letter, feel free to adjust/customize
June 3, 2025
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez
Chair, Senate Education Committee
1021 O Street, Suite 6740, Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 715 (Zbur & Addis) – Oppose
Dear Chair Perez,
I write to you in strong opposition to AB 715, and I respectfully urge you to oppose this bill. If passed, this legislation will have a severe chilling effect on what California public school teachers are allowed to teach, and what our students are allowed to learn in K-12 classrooms. AB 715 threatens to suppress educational materials about global issues of critical importance generally, and about Palestine, the Palestinian people, and the state of Israel specifically.
AB715, a hastily created bill after its predecessor AB1468 was withdrawn due to strong opposition from over 30 organizations including the California Teachers Association (CTA), CA School Boards Association (CSBA), Association of CA School Administrators (ACSAS), California Latino School Board Association (CLSBA), Asian Pacific School Board Members Association, is far worse.
Vote NO on ABC 715z
Sincerely, XXX
Name
[City], CA [Zipcode]
Here’s the link to the Position Letter Portal: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates
Background info:
AB 715 has now advanced to the California Senate and WE NEED TO STOP IT HERE AND NOW. At the core of AB 715 is the weaponization of California’s Uniform Complaint Procedures, which allows students and families to report incidents of discrimination in schools. Under AB 715, educators and school staff could face punishment simply for discussing the history and current events surrounding Israel and Palestine, particularly when those discussions include critical perspectives on the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza. PLEASE SHARE WITH AT LEAST 15 OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! ALL HANDS ON DECK
Press Release from the Arab American Caucus:
We are sharing with you the Caucus’s press release on AB 715, a dangerous bill that censors speech in the classroom, especially on the issue of Palestine. We urge you to take a minute to contact your California representatives and ask them to oppose this bill by going to the following link: Stop AB 715—No Censorship of Palestine in California Schools | Take Action Now – Arab American Civic Council
The Arab American Caucus Urges Legislators to Oppose AB 715 – A Threat to Educational Freedom and Inclusive Curriculum
Sacramento, CA — The Arab American Caucus of the California Democratic Party strongly opposes Assembly Bill 715, introduced by Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur and Dawn Addis. This bill threatens to impose harmful restrictions on K-12 public education by censoring classroom content, particularly discussions surrounding global human rights issues and the Palestinian experience.
If passed, AB 715 would impose a chilling effect on California educators, limiting their ability to teach accurately and inclusively about international events and marginalized communities. The legislation appears to target critical discourse around Palestine, effectively silencing the voices of students and teachers advocating for academic freedom and social justice.
“This bill is not just a policy issue—it’s a civil rights issue,” said Mirvette Judeh, Chairwoman of the Arab American Caucus. “By stifling educators’ ability to teach about Palestine and other international struggles, AB 715 undermines ethnic studies, distorts historical truth, and violates the principles of a free and equitable education.”
AB 715 directly conflicts with California’s existing Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, which is designed to elevate historically marginalized voices, including Arab American, Palestinian, and other communities. The Arab American Caucus urges lawmakers to consider the long-term implications of this bill on public trust, cultural competency, and educational equity.
“We call on fellow Democratic leaders, educators, students, and community organizations across the state to stand against censorship and protect the integrity of our classrooms,” Judeh added.
The Arab American Caucus stands in solidarity with teachers, civil rights advocates, and educational organizations statewide in calling for the immediate withdrawal of AB 715. It is imperative that California remains a leader in inclusive, accurate, and empowering public education for all.
About the Arab American Caucus
The Arab American Caucus is a chartered organization within the California Democratic Party, dedicated to amplifying the voices of Arab Americans, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for equity and justice across all levels of government and public policy
Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento 