1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I’m writing to urge you to strongly oppose AB 715, a bill that is being quietly amended to revive the worst parts of AB 1468—a bill already rejected by Californians across the state. AB 715 expands California’s anti-discrimination laws to ban educational materials perceived as discriminatory, using a vague redefinition of “nationality” and “religion.” By framing nationality to include perceived ancestry or ties to a country’s dominant religion—like Israel—the bill opens the door to censoring classroom discussions on Palestine, Zionism, and Israeli war crimes in Gaza. This bill encourages surveillance of educators, fosters fear and repression, and targets those who include Palestine, the Nakba, and colonialism in their teaching. It exceptionalizes one form of oppression while erasing others, and sets a dangerous precedent for political control over curriculum. California students deserve to learn about the world honestly and fully. Teachers must be free to teach without fear of being harassed or criminalized for addressing Palestine or systems of oppression. We already have laws and processes in place to protect students from discrimination. AB 715 is not about safety—it’s about censorship. Don’t let California follow in the footsteps of Florida and Texas. Stand up for Ethnic Studies, academic freedom, and Palestinian voices. Reject AB 715.