Petition to the Administration and Board of Trustees where Christian Lopez is a baseball coach, advisor and teacher 

We, the undersigned members of the Buckley community, call on the administration to take immediate action regarding Coach Christian Lopez in light of his wife Ana Kasparian’s public statements targeting Jewish people with hateful and dehumanizing language.

These comments create a hostile environment for Jewish students, families, faculty, and alumni. They cannot be minimized as “personal” when they are broadcast publicly and directly impact the Buckley community.

Coach Lopez is publicly associated with the Buckley School, a private institution that values diversity, equity, and the safety of all members of its community. By extension, the school has a responsibility to ensure that his position does not lend credibility or tacit support to antisemitic rhetoric.

Therefore, we request the following actions consistent with Buckley’s legal and ethical obligations to maintain a safe and inclusive environment:

    1.    Public Statement of Values: Coach Lopez should make a clear, public statement affirming that:

    1.    Antisemitism in any form is unacceptable and has no place at Buckley or within its community.

    2.    Comments or actions that demean, threaten, or create a hostile environment for Jewish students, staff, or families, whether expressed as political beliefs or otherwise, are harmful and unacceptable.

    3.    He is committed to upholding Buckley’s values of respect, inclusion, and safety in all aspects of his teaching, coaching, and public associations.

This statement is intended to affirm that speech or actions that demean, threaten, or create a hostile environment for Jewish students, staff, or families are unacceptable, and to demonstrate a commitment to upholding Buckley’s values of respect, inclusion, and safety. The focus is on the impact of speech and behavior rather than political ideology, ensuring that claims of being “anti-Zionist” cannot be used to evade accountability for creating a hostile environment.

    2.    Transparency: The Buckley administration should communicate openly with families, faculty, and alumni regarding the steps taken to ensure the safety and inclusion of Jewish students and the broader school community.

    3.    Community Support Measures: Buckley should take steps to assess the school climate, including gathering feedback from students, staff, and families regarding their sense of safety and comfort, and implement measures to address any concerns.

Silence or private assurances are insufficient. If Buckley is committed to being a safe, inclusive, and equitable school, the community deserves clear public accountability and visible action.

Signed,