Jewish Teacher Removed From UTLA Meeting After Members Call Zionism Racism

An Orthodox Jewish Los Angeles teacher said Friday that members of the United Teachers Los Angeles House of Representatives voted earlier this week to expel her from an online meeting after publicly denouncing her and declaring that Zionism is “racism.” 

Leserman said she was removed despite sitting silently through the meeting. The incident comes amid a years-long fight inside one of America’s most influential teachers unions over Israel, Zionism, antisemitism and anti-Israel activism in public education.

“I never said a single word the entire meeting,” Leserman wrote after the vote, according to journalist Kevin Deutsch, who first reported the story.

UTLA represents more than 35,000 public school educators in Los Angeles. Its House of Representatives serves as one of the union’s central governing bodies and has previously taken up Israel-related resolutions and political positions.

According to Leserman, members used official meeting time to accuse her of targeting union activists and attacking anti-Israel voices inside the union. She said she had attended the online meeting as an observer and did not speak before the vote to remove her.

“For two hours I sat silently as an observer, which is my right as a union member,” she wrote.

Leserman said the House then voted to expel her from the meeting “for fighting anti-Jew hatred.” She also said she was given no charges, no hearing and no trial before the vote was held.

UTLA has not publicly responded to the specific allegation. In previous Israel-related disputes, the union has said debate and disagreement are part of its internal democratic process, while also saying it opposes antisemitism and anti-Arab hate.

The latest allegation follows several years of controversy over UTLA’s handling of Israel and Gaza. In 2021, UTLA area chapters advanced motions expressing solidarity with Palestinians and supporting the BDS movement against Israel. Jewish teachers and community groups opposed the effort, warning that it would alienate Jewish educators and make Jewish students and families feel unsafe.

Leserman was among the Jewish educators who publicly opposed those efforts at the time. She warned that an anti-Israel union position would affect the atmosphere in Los Angeles public schools and send a message to Jewish students and families.

In 2024, UTLA’s House of Representatives also backed an effort by Sen. Bernie Sanders to block roughly $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel. That vote drew internal opposition, including from members who objected to the union taking the vote while some Jewish members were absent because of Shemini Atzeret, a Jewish holiday.

Leserman has been described as a longtime Los Angeles teacher and former 25-year UTLA member. She is also vice president of the Association of Jewish Educators, which advocates for Jewish teachers and students in Los Angeles public schools.

She is also listed as a plaintiff in a federal civil rights case brought by Jewish parents and teachers against LAUSD, UTLA and ethnic studies curriculum groups.

The Wednesday vote is now drawing attention from Jewish educators and activists who say anti-Israel politics inside public school systems are increasingly crossing into hostility toward Jews who defend Zionism. Leserman’s supporters say the incident shows that Jewish teachers who challenge anti-Zionist activism are being isolated inside their own professional unions.