In your article on October 9th, 2024– front page titled: “SFUSD School Closures: What Every Family Needs to Know“ the image printed online and on page A7 highlights a protester holding a sign that reads “MONEY FOR EDUCATION NOT FOR OCCUPATION.” This choice of image, I feel blatantly perpetuates anti-Semitic rhetoric by falsely connecting US policies supporting Israel and budget problems in the San Francisco public schools.
I understand that not being Jewish, the editor and other people may be completely unaware of the implications of such imagery. As a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I feel a responsibility to call this anti-Israel bias out.
Like it or not, because Israel (a democratic state with freedom of religion) is a central part of the Jewish story, culture, religion, peoplehood, prayer, and history it is impossible to separate the connection between Israel and the Jews. So yes, the person carrying the sign and the SF Chronicle re-printing this image are both antisemitic.
Jews historically have been blamed for all sorts of things which have led to alienation, intimidation and attempted genocide. I see massive increases in threads of anti-Semitism being woven into daily life post 10/7/23 when Hamas invaded Israel and massacred 1200 innocent civilians—proclaiming its intention of destroying the entire nation and its people. From our local Jewish-owned businesses being defaced, graffiti on street signs, side walks, on the highway, and in the media everywhere I look, I am bombarded with anti-Israel messages. The unfathomable plight of the Palestinian people caused by this war are being used as an excuse to justify antisemitism across the board.
Jewish families have been made to feel unwelcome in local public schools and universities (not to mention UCSF)— whether they want nothing to do with Israel, support Israel as the historic Jewish homeland, want a peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state and/or are deeply dismayed at any of both governments’ policies and horrific wartime actions.
Of all the images you could’ve chosen for this article, why has your editor published one that blames US policies supporting Israel for financial problems in our local San Francisco public schools? What does Israel have to do with public education in San Francisco? According to the Public Policy Institute of California, an independent non-partisan research organization, the Federal government provides between 6-9% of funding for public schools—nevertheless, Israel is to blame.
These images and messages woven into our media further inflames division, taints public opinion and endangers the safety of Jewish families. Please be more diligent when choosing how to inform your readers about problems in the public schools.
Sincerely,
Aimee Golant Casella
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