CFA Members Denounce the Passing of Assembly Bill 715 as a Threat to Free Speech and Academic Freedom

Assembly Bill 715—deceptively titled “Educational Equity: Discrimination: Antisemitism Prevention”—was signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 7.

California teachers, including CFA members, and a vast number of labor unions and non-profit organizations, fought incredibly hard to prevent the bill from being signed.

While we agree with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and the California Legislature that antisemitism is a great evil that must be addressed just as quickly as it is condemned, this bill fails to address this issue sincerely or prudently.

AB 715 will not address antisemitism—at least not in the way its authors may have intended. It will instead offer a legitimate means to surveil and censor educators in the very institutions founded on the principles of free speech and academic freedom. The nature of education is to offer varying viewpoints that allow for critical and civic engagement—where students feel safe to inquire about socio-political issues that affect them, their families, and our societies at large.

“This bill will have a chilling impact on classroom teachers who are already facing lawsuits, censorship, and threats to their ability to facilitate critical discussions on important and timely current events,” said Theresa Montaño, tri-chair of CFA’s Teacher Education Caucus and a professor at CSU Northridge. “Teacher discourse on Palestine or the genocide in Gaza will be policed, misrepresented, and reported to the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator. Today, it’s Palestine, but tomorrow it could be your ‘rainbow flag,’ your ‘Black Lives Matter poster,’ or your ‘ICE out of LA’ t-shirt.’

Any law, policy, or mandate that limits free speech or attempts to suppress it is unmistakably dangerous for democracy, and this bill does exactly that. Rather than create spaces for meaningful conversations and healthy disagreements, this politically repressive bill only serves to form a deeper wedge of misunderstanding and hate. It will foster division and mistrust, two powerful forces that are profoundly destructive to any society.

It amplifies the Trump administration’s attacks on public education and further contributes to the harm done to institutions dedicated to teaching and learning.

But our members’ efforts have not been in vain. Though the governor has signed the bill, he acknowledged the urgent concerns regarding its unintended consequences. As a result, there will be a follow-up measure next year to continue addressing the deeply troubling ramifications that manifest from the bill.

As we brace for these new changes in K-12 education, our members remain steadfast in defending free speech. We will continue to ensure that our students always have safe and supportive spaces to cultivate their knowledge and compassion.