The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with AROC Action, JVP Action, and numerous other members of a statewide coalition, today strongly condemned the unanimous (9–0) passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 715 (Zbur) in a special Assembly Education Committee hearing held earlier today, calling the measure an assault on academic freedom and an attempt to silence voices advocating for Palestinian rights.
AB 715 revives the most troubling elements of AB 1468, a now withdrawn bill that sparked widespread outcry. It concerningly expands the definition of “nationality” in California’s Education Code to include perceived ancestry, ethnicity, or even religious affiliation tied to a country—such as Israel.
This opens the door to punishing educators who teach about Palestine, colonialism, or human rights abuses, simply because someone claims offense tied to their national or religious identity.
While the draft legislation claims to address Islamophobia, it does so without acknowledging anti-Palestinian racism, a major driver of Islamophobia today. Worse, the authors failed to consult with any Arab or Muslim groups, even as they engaged with leading anti-Palestinian organizations.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“Today’s committee passage of AB 715 is a shameful escalation in the ongoing effort to censor discussions of Palestinian history. This bill cloaks censorship in the language of combating antisemitism when, in reality, it is an attempt to erase Palestinian narratives and weaponize identity to chill protected speech.
“We defeated AB 1468 through mass mobilization, and we will fight back against AB 715 with the same determination. Our classrooms should be places of truth, not tools of repression.”
In a statement, AROC Action Executive Director Lara Kiswani said:
“Not only are we facing the violent repression and attempted erasure of Palestinian voices by the Trump administration, [but] it is appalling that California legislators are seeking to do the same in our schools. As evidenced by the testimony of teachers, students, and community members from across California who overwhelmingly spoke against AB 715, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to vilify Ethnic Studies and must be rejected.”
In a statement, JVP Action Board Treasurer Seth Morrison said:
“This bill isn’t just censorship—it’s legislative gaslighting. AB 715 exploits the language of civil rights to intimidate educators and erase Palestinian perspectives from the classroom. As a Jew, I reject the idea that opposing genocide and occupation is antisemitic. This bill undermines academic freedom and distorts what safety truly means in a democratic society.”
In a statement, Dr. Theresa Montaña, Professor of History and Ethnic Studies at California State University, Northridge, and Chair of the California Faculty Association Teacher Education Caucus, said:
“California already has procedures in place to address bias in the classroom, but AB 715 goes further by singling out one form of discrimination over all others. We’ve already seen where this leads. Just months ago, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that falsely accused Ethnic Studies educators of antisemitism, reaffirming that teachers must be free to challenge students and foster critical thinking. AB 715 risks turning every classroom disagreement into a political minefield, and every educator into a target.”
The groups also criticized the rushed and opaque process used to advance AB 715. Just days after AB 1468 stalled in response to widespread opposition, AB 715 was fast-tracked to today’s special hearing through last-minute amendments and procedural loopholes—limiting transparency, shutting out public input, and sidelining democratic norms. Despite these obstacles, nearly 3,000 Californians emailed their legislators, dozens called the Capitol, and more than 100 attended today’s meeting to oppose AB 715.
Attendees of today’s hearing also raised concerns about the committee’s conduct. While supporters of AB 715 were allegedly allowed to speak at length, those voicing opposition were reportedly often cut off or limited to brief procedural remarks. In one instance, Assemblymember Muratsuchi, the committee chair, reportedly interjected, “You object. We got the point. Thank you.” The exchange underscored concerns about the fairness of the hearing and the limited opportunity for substantive discussion of the bill’s harms.
CAIR-CA, AROC Action, JVP Action, and their broader statewide coalition of civil rights, education, and community organizations remain resolute in their opposition to AB 715. In the weeks ahead, advocates across the state will continue mobilizing to expose the bill’s true impact and protect educators’ and students’ rights to speak honestly about issues of global justice.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
END
CONTACTS: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, 714.851.4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Contact Tasneem Manjra, 916.441.6469, tManjra@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, 760.201.7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com