In a pivotal decision made at 1:00 am on June 20, 2024, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustees voted to adopt the Combating Hate and Racism strategy, which now includes a commitment to combating anti-Palestinian racism (APR) alongside other named forms of oppression. This decision is a significant step forward for the TDSB community. However, we, the Toronto Palestinian Families (TPF) and Toronto Jewish Families (TJF), must express our deep disappointment regarding the persistent efforts by some trustees to undermine this crucial and long-overdue process. These efforts reveal a troubling reluctance to acknowledge and address expressions of Palestinian identity and solidarity, which is precisely why APR must be included in any comprehensive anti-racist strategy.
We believe it is essential for these trustees to engage in comprehensive education to effectively champion anti-colonialism and anti-racism within TDSB schools and the broader community. The interconnectedness of anti-Palestinian racism and antisemitism has been extensively analyzed in the Canadian context by respected organizations such as the Arab Canadian Lawyers’ Association, the Jewish Faculty Network, and Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). The TDSB’s new strategy aligns with best practices advocated by anti-racist and anti-colonial scholars and educators, marking a necessary and overdue shift.
As highlighted by this growing body of scholarship, combating APR is not inherently antisemitic. In fact, suggesting otherwise, as seen in last night’s board meeting, constitutes a form of APR itself. The wellbeing of all TDSB children is interconnected, and baseless, racist fears regarding Palestinian identity expressions must not be used to silence such voices.
CJPME’s intersectional framework, which addresses both APR and antisemitism, and resources from the Jewish Faculty Network on combating antisemitism, are vital tools that trustees should utilize in their deliberations. The formal recognition of APR by the TDSB marks the beginning of the critical task of addressing it through practical measures. This includes integrating Palestinian history and culture into the curriculum, adding Nakba Day to the school calendar, providing educator training, and appointing a student equity advisor, among other necessary steps.
We acknowledge the challenging but essential journey ahead for the TDSB to become a space where all children, including Palestinian and Jewish children, feel seen and valued. We are committed to collaborating with the TDSB to combat all forms of oppression in our schools, including anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, ableism, and all other forms of discrimination and bigotry.
Toronto Jewish Families Statement
Toronto Jewish Families asserts that Jewish identity is distinct from Zionism or support for Israel’s settler colonial project. Our community is not monolithic, and it is an erasure of our diverse identities to assume all Jews are Zionists. Many Jews in Canada and globally reject the false assertion that Jewishness requires us to excuse or justify the actions of the Israeli government and military. It is our commitment to Jewish principles of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and social justice that compels us to stand against colonialism in Israel/Palestine and worldwide.
We reject the notion that acknowledging APR endangers Jewish community members. Palestinian and Jewish safety are interconnected. Both APR and antisemitism are forms of oppression rooted in colonial white supremacy, which also upholds other interlocking forms of oppression. Anti-oppression cannot be a competition; it must be grounded in solidarity, intersectionality, and collective liberation.
The panic around “anti-Israel racism” is a manufactured distraction. Israel, like Canada and the United States, is a settler colonial state, not a race. Genuine discrimination against Israeli students based on nationality should be addressed with nuance and care, but expressions of Palestinian culture and heritage do not constitute harassment, racism, or discrimination. Claims to the contrary undermine the fight against all forms of oppression and divert attention from the real issues at hand.
Next Steps
It is crucial for the TDSB to undertake practical measures to address APR. This includes integrating Palestinian perspectives into the curriculum, recognizing Nakba Day, training educators, and appointing a student equity advisor. We also urge the TDSB to consult with academic experts on anti-racism to ensure informed decisions.
We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the TDSB to create an inclusive and equitable environment for all students, rooted in mutual respect and understanding.
Toronto Palestinian Families 