October 26, 2021

President Richard Barrera

Vice-President Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne

Member Sabrina Bazzo

Member Kevin Beiser

Member Dr. Michael McQuarry

Student Member Zachary Patterson

Interim Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson

To the Board Members and Interim Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District:

The Jewish leadership of San Diego County strongly supports the San Diego Unified School District’s Antisemitism Resolution and we applaud the co-sponsors for their efforts in writing such a powerful resolution.

This resolution will go a long way in creating a safe atmosphere for Jewish students, faculty and staff, and the San Diego Unified community, both in class and on campus. We also recognize what we teach our youth about their ancestral legacies and cultures is essential in the fight for racial and ethnic justice and equity, and it is with that belief that these efforts will hopefully extend beyond the boundaries of the schools.

FBI statistics from 2020 show that 57.5% of religious-based hate crimes were committed upon Jews who make up just 2% of the U.S. population. In California alone there has been a 60% rise in antisemitic hate crimes since 2017, according to the ADL. The San Diego Jewish community has been a part of local civil society since 1850 and today we count 100,000 members strong throughout the county. In that time, we have experienced everything from acceptance and prosperity to red-lining, hatred, and discrimination. Yet, the San Diego County District Attorney’s office statistics show that the overwhelming number of hate crimes motivated by religion are against Jews. These are all rates that are too significant to ignore.

It was just two years ago that Lori Kaye z”l, a graduate of San Diego Unified schools, was gunned down at a Poway synagogue. The tens of thousands of Jews within the SDUSD boundaries have reported an increase in harassment, vandalism, physical assaults, emotional trauma and worse. Jewish students and teachers alike have reported being afraid to wear clothing or jewelry that identifies them as Jews. This is unacceptable.

Jewish students and staff deserve to feel safe and we appreciate the resolution including training and resources for administration, teachers, and student leaders to prevent and address antisemitism. We appreciate the commitment you have made to work with organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, the Governor’s Council on Holocaust Education and Genocide Remembrance, and Simon Wiesenthal Center, and others.

The importance of this resolution extends to the SDUSD students and families who take courses in the San Diego Community College District where the AFT recently adopted an antisemitic resolution which has caused sadness, fear, and anger as a result of its false claims and incendiary language and has left Jewish staff and students feeling unsafe. It is our hope that this resolution will empower Jewish students and staff as they move between districts.

We extend “kavod” -- honor and respect -- to Student Board Member Zachary Patterson and Vice-President Dr. Whitehurst-Payne for co-sponsoring the resolution. Thank you both for taking the appropriate steps to ensure your Jewish students, as well as your Jewish staff, knows that the school board will stand up for them.

We urge the Board to vote yes to adopt the Antisemitism Resolution for SDUSD.

Respectfully,

PEER K-12

This letter is co-signed by the following organizations and individuals:

*Updated as of 10/27/21 @ 12:30pm