On June 12, New Times reported on vandalism on the Cal Poly campus carried out by pro-Palestinian activists “just a month after President Jeffrey Armstrong spoke before Congress about the school’s handling of antisemitism on campus” (“Cal Poly was vandalized again by pro-Palestinian activists“). It is time to stop equating support for Palestinian causes with antisemitism. Anti-Palestinian policies and attacks are devised and carried out by the Israeli government, not by Jews as a whole. I doubt very much that most of those who oppose these actions are antisemites. Thousands of Jews in Israel and abroad oppose the destruction of Gaza. Are they antisemites?
There is widespread concern for the welfare of Jewish students across the country. It’s being reported on regularly. Where are the safeguards and reports on the well-being of Arab and Muslim students? Ever since 9/11, Arabs and Muslims have been assumed to be terrorists and have undergone harassment, discrimination, and violence. Since Oct. 7, 2023, incidents targeting them have risen by nearly 200 percent. A 2024 survey by the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats reported that 56 percent of Jewish students—no surprise—and 52 percent of Muslim students felt that their position on one or the other side of the conflict put them in personal danger. But I’m not seeing any media reports on concern for Muslim students in universities.
Israel and its supporters are using accusations of antisemitism to silence dissent and to reinforce suspicion and hatred of Arabs and Muslims. People are being accused of antisemitism with no evidence other than their support of a victimized people—no examination of past actions or expression. The steamroller of support for Israel by the American government and by European powers is very effectively rolling over institutions of all sorts—including, it would seem, Cal Poly.
Johanna Rubba
Grover Beach
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 6, 2025.
It’s part of the recent global trend of ‘Victimhood Nationalism,’ including India’s Modi, Trump of course, Park Geun-Hye in South Korea, and the ludicrous claims of Afrikaners. Victims revise history to demonize their victimizers, paving the way for expulsion, subjugation or genocide.
Thanks to the author for pointing out the false call of “antisemitism” directed toward anyone, including Jews, who criticize Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinian people. Dawn Addis is currently authoring Assembly Bill 715 that would punish educators for criticizing Israel’s policies and for introducing students to the Palestinian narrative in any classes. And no one in SLO County, Democratic or otherwise, is pushing back against her.
JILL
Assembly Bill 715, co-authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis and others, aims to strengthen protections against antisemitism and discrimination in California K-12 schools. The bill has received broad bipartisan support and has passed the California Assembly with a 68-0 vote.
68- 0?? Maybe YOU’RE framing it wrong?
AI
“It’s inaccurate to say that Assembly Bill 715 would simply punish educators. While the bill has been framed as a way to address antisemitism in schools, opponents argue that it could potentially lead to punishment for educators who discuss the history and current events surrounding Israel and Palestine, especially critical perspectives of Israeli government actions in Gaza. “
Thank You Johanna Rubba for your excellent letter. I agree.
And Thank You Jill Stegman for your comments.
Here is an email I sent to Assemblyperson Dawn Addis regarding these issues, and the influence of AIPAC.
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Thank you for all of the good work you have done and are doing. And thank you for pulling AB 1468 from consideration.
I just learned that now you are a Sponsor of AB715 which is just as bad or worse, and I ask you to remove it from consideration as well.
I Do not Support this bill. And I ask You, Please Do not Support AB 715, and remove it from consideration, before it can do any damage to our Educational System, and move us closer to an Authoritarian State.
AB 715 is too vague with no transparency and will lead us down a slippery slope into Censorship and dictatorship.
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Jill Stegman wrote an excellent well researched analysis of AB 715, and here are some key points on why You and all the Sponsors need to remove AB 715 from consideration:
“Rushed through the Assembly Education Committee on May 14 with little to no opportunity for public scrutiny, AB 715 is being advanced under the guise of combating antisemitism. But in reality, it is a sweeping and dangerous bill that targets discussions of Palestine and silences Arab-American students, educators, and their allies. The bill’s language raises red flags about its true intent and impact. Its final language remains obscured from public view at this stage. When legislation is crafted and pushed forward without transparency, we must ask: What are its authors trying to hide?
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. This bill opens the door for political censorship in our classrooms, where nuance and truth should prevail, not fear.
Even more troubling is the bill’s plan to establish a state antisemitism coordinator. Critics suspect that lawmakers will continue to amend AB 715 to rely on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition and examples of antisemitism in leveling accusations against teachers. Seven of the 11 IHRA examples center on Israel, …”
“The supporters of AB 715 are organizing swiftly, using political influence and coordinated messaging to push this bill forward. Those of us who believe in democratic education, freedom of expression, and justice for all must respond with equal urgency. Californians from every background must speak out against this bill, not only to defend Palestinian voices but also to defend the principle that no community should be erased from our classrooms.
To lawmakers: If you truly stand for equity, inclusion, and democratic values, you must oppose AB 715. Do not allow fear, political pressure, or misinformation to override your conscience. This bill is not a shield against hate—it is a tool of repression.”
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Thank You Jill Stegman. Those are the facts and that is what will happen if AB 715 becomes Law.
And these researched facts from my last opposition to AB1468 still apply to this email regarding AB 715.
AIPAC and the Trump Administration are spreading misinformation about anti-semitism and will gladly use a bill like AB 715 to gum up the works of the California Education System with more red-herring and shiny distractions, to hide their own racism and corruption.
I believe I sent you my thoughts on how similar Trump and Netanyahu are, both narcissists and intent on destroying their own democracies, judicial systems and Rule of Law in both of their countries, to keep them out of prison for their continued corruption.
And as we all know, Netanyahu continues his Genocide, which Trump supports. Both are using “antisemitism” as a distraction and distortion of the word antisemitism’s actual meaning. They have been taking lessons from Putin, who is their actual puppeteer. They are all working to destabilize the Democratic Western World to broaden the club of Despotic Dictators.
I sent those thoughts both to President Biden, VP Harris and PM Netanyahu over twenty times in 2023 and 2024. I did comment on a letter by Jose Nunez in the New Times, April 10, 2025, that shares my views, which are not political, just out of concern for Netanyahu’s ongoing genocide.
AB 715 in my research of it, is a bad bill. I Do not Support this bill. It is too vague and will lead us down a slippery slope into State Sponsored Censorship and Authoritarianism. I believe that it will aid and abet both AIPAC and the Trump Administration in censoring all education here in California and throughout America, along with helping to destroy Our American Democratic Republic.
Assembly Member Dawn Addis, Please remove this bill AB 715 from consideration. It will not have a good outcome.
Scott – I appreciate your comments and letter to Dawn Addis, who consistently refuses to speak publicly about AB 715 or even mention it in her newsletters. Neither will she define antisemitism.