A group of educators within the National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the United States, is pressing for the union to revoke its endorsement of President Joe Biden for the 2024 presidential race. The educators are demanding that Biden secure a “permanent cease-fire” in Israel and stop sending military funding and equipment to the country. They argue that the NEA, which has a supportive relationship with the Biden administration, should use its leverage to demand an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The campaign is also calling for a fair due process for asylum-seekers and refugees. The educators plan to withhold voluntary donations from the NEA’s political action committee until their demands are met.
The organizing effort to rescind Biden’s endorsement is gaining momentum within the NEA, with several local, state, and regional bodies of the union already calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The campaign hopes to escalate the push by calling for the union to rescind Biden’s endorsement, as the NEA is the largest union in the country. By doing so, the educators hope to bring attention to the ongoing violence in Gaza and put pressure on Biden to change his position on Israel. The campaign argues that a majority of Americans, including Democrats, support a cease-fire and disapprove of Biden’s handling of the situation.
The educators involved in the campaign have personal connections to the issue, with many of them being Palestinian Americans or having family ties to Palestine. They believe that as teachers, they have a responsibility to stand up for the rights of children everywhere. They argue that the union should be advocating for all children, not just those in their own classrooms. The campaign is part of a larger movement within the US labor movement to support a cease-fire in Gaza, with several major national unions joining the call.
Overall, the educators within the NEA are pushing for the union to take a stronger stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including revoking Biden’s endorsement until a cease-fire is secured. They believe that as educators, they have a responsibility to advocate for the rights of children and to speak out against violence and injustice.
