Our Jewish students, future leaders, are constantly targeted. It's a heartrending reality we face every time we send them to initiatives like the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference. The conference positions itself as an effort to  empower and foster leadership in our students, but has proven itself a  platform for individuals like Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, known for his bias and hateful stance against Jews and Israel, to speak.

Martinez claims to be spokesperson on racial, indigenous and oppression issues, and yet he consistently targets Jews, a Middle Eastern indigenous minority. His track record demonstrates a direct contradiction to the values of true diversity and fact-based information, but in keeping with the historically antisemitic bias NAIS espouses, especially since she uses his influence to spread Jew hating, anti-Israel propaganda. He claims that that Israel is an apartheid state and Jews are colonists, rejecting and erasing Jewish identity and indigeneity and peoplehood. He is platformed by state propagandists Al Jazeera, supports BDS and claims that the IDF and the only Jewish state in the world, is carrying out a "genocide" and is intentionally harming civilians and as well as blocking humanitarian aid.

These actions, going unchecked, not only threaten the identity of our Jewish students, but also their safety. Even worse, she condescends and attempts to appropriate our identity and heritage by claiming that Jews filing Title VI complaints as per their civil rights are "weaponizing and watering down antisemitism". This supposed advocate for diversity is, instead, fostering a space of bigotry and racial antagonism. NAIS is obviously promoting the indoctrination of thousands of young students.

Jewish students constitute a minority portion of independent schools nationwide, and it is pertinent to respect and safeguard their well-being. Antisemitic incidents in schools have multiplied and intensified with the institutionalization of DEI, making apparent the need for an environment free of hatred and bias. Our students must not fall prey to twisted agendas and falsehoods about Jews, an ancient indigenous minority.

We call upon all fair-minded supporters of equality and fact-based curriculum to stand up against this threat. We demand that NAIS listens to our concern and takes action; cancel Martinez as a speaker from the SDLC Conference. In doing so, we create a safer, more inclusive environment for our students, promoting growth and leadership without bigotry or fear. Sign the petition to ensure a positive and hate-free conference for our future leaders.