Trump Admin EEOC Investigating National Education Association for Anti-Semtic Harassment

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is investigating the National Education Association for anti-Semtic harassment and discrimination following a complaint filed by the Brandeis Center on behalf of Jewish members–including one teacher in Southern California who says the NEA convention last year devolved into an anti-Jewish hatefest.

Still reeling from his experience, the teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the California Globe that, “Even thinking about it today sends shivers down my spine–that I was  in a room with 3000 people that hated me so much.”

He said that he watched 3000 members seething with hate trying to shout down a resolution in favor of Jewish heritage. “The [no votes] were really loud. To think 3000 people [were] saying no Jewish heritage month–that was shocking to my core.  The shouting of no was so loud and deafening.”

The veteran educator, who teaches social studies, said he hopes the EEOC investigation sends a “strong message” to the NEA that “that this type of discrimination is unacceptable. It’s not free speech. It’s not democracy. It’s hate.”

Brandeis Center lawyer Marci Miller told the California Globe that the EEOC informed her about two weeks ago that they had launched an investigation of the NEA, the nation’s largest teachers union, which boasts more than three million members.

In a telephone interview she said that, “We really appreciate the EEOC’s decision to open up an investigation. We see it as  a real commitment to enforcing [civil rights laws] for all Americans.”

“We would like to see action to stop the harassment and discrimination. We would like to see the policies that violate the law changed-so that all NEA members have equal opportunities. We would like to see all Jewish members protected.”

The complaint charges that the NEA is discriminating against Jewish members in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by creating a hostile work environment suffused with anti-Semitism and also by excluding them from leadership roles reserved for racial minorities.

“Members have been harmed by the NEA’s promotion of a hateful and biased environment; the proliferation of inaccurate, offensive, and antisemitic materials and attempts at ideological indoctrination; and the NEA’s causing and attempts to cause state and local affiliates and employers to discriminate against Jewish NEA members.”

It contends that, “The NEA’s discrimination against its Jewish and Israeli members, and the hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli NEA members, has limited and impaired the opportunities for Jewish and Israeli members to fully and equally participate in NEA affairs and policymaking and has resulted in a hostile work environment for these NEA members based on their religion, shared ancestry, and national origin. “

Miller said that NEA policies are, “trickling down to classrooms. Teachers are receiving the message that it is perfectly acceptable to erase Jewish identity.”

According to the complaint the NEA managed to even erase Jews from the Holocaust–with official material that talked about millions of people being killed without saying Jews were targeted.

And the day after the October 7 Hamas massacre, the NEA distributed a map of the Middle East that erased Israel entirely–labeling the Jewish state territory as Palestine.

The complaint also says that at the 2025 convention, Jewish members were “physically surrounded, harassed” and intimidated by pro-Hamas agitators.

Meanwhile, the Jewish social studies teacher from Southern California says he plans to attend the NEA convention scheduled to start this Friday in Denver and expects another hatefest to unfold.

“I am absolutely not looking forward to it. But I feel like I need to be there. My hope is that it’s better. But my gut” says otherwise. “The same 3000 people who shouted down Jews last year are going to do it again.”

The NEA said in a press statement about the EEOC investigation that  “NEA does not tolerate antisemitism in any form and is committed to ensuring that all members and students, including Jewish members and students, can work and learn in a safe and welcoming environment.”