Resolution in Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Whereas, over 1,500 Palestinians from neighborhoods in Jerusalem are facing the threat of forced displacement and home demolitions by Israeli authorities, and children make up a large percentage of the families threatened with homelessness.
Whereas, this pattern and practice of dispossession and expansion of settlements has been found to be illegal under international law.
Whereas, many reputable international human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Israel-based B’tselem have designated these practices of Israel as “apartheid” and a regime of legalized racial discrimination perpetrated against the Palestinian people. The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into these practices.
Whereas, in response to Palestinian demonstrations against these illegal practices and the forcible displacement of families in Sheikh Jarrah, Israeli police attacked demonstrations in many instances, injuring hundreds including a raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a place of worship.
Whereas, since May 10 the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has began an intense campaign of bombing and mortar fire on the territory of Gaza. At the time of writing, nearly 200 people, more than a quarter of them children, have been killed. Over 1,300 have been wounded, and 40,000 Gazans have lost their homes.
Whereas, as public school educators in the United States of America, we have a special responsibility to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people because of the 3.8 billion dollars annually that the US government gives to Israel, thus directly using our tax dollars to fund apartheid and war crimes.
Whereas, since 2005, over 170 Palestinian organizations of civil society, including educator unions, have—modelled on the movement to end South African apartheid—asked the international community to join the campaign to boycott, divest, and call for sanctions against Israel. Since then many educators unions, including the largest educators union in Europe (the National Union of Teachers) and many national trade union federations throughout the world have endorsed that call.
Therefore, be it resolved, that United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) express our solidarity with the Palestinian people and call for Israel to end bombardment of Gaza and stop displacement at Sheikh Jarrah.
Therefore, be it further resolved that UESF calls on the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden to stop aid to Israel.
Therefore, be it further resolved that UESF endorse the international campaign for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against apartheid in Israel.
Submitted to the May 19th Meeting of the United Educators of San Francisco Assembly. Co-signed by Alex Schmaus, Francisco MS, Anna M Grossi, John O’Connell HS, Dante Popalisky, George Washington HS, Ericca Chavez, Leonard Flynn ES, Greg McGarry, Mission HS, Jenn Bowman, George Washington HS, José Montenegro, June Jordan HS, Max Raynard, Clarendon ES, Shendi Xu, Francisco MS, V Sandoval, June Jordan HS