**Petition to Support the Santa Ana Unified School District's Ethnic Studies Curriculum**

We, the undersigned, firmly support the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and Superintendent Jerry Almendarez in their commitment to maintaining the Ethnic Studies Curriculum in its current form. This curriculum is a vital educational resource that promotes inclusivity, diversity, and a deeper understanding of the experiences of historically marginalized communities.

The SAUSD's Ethnic Studies Curriculum goes beyond traditional narratives, enabling students to critically examine the lasting impact of colonization and imperialism on global structural and social inequities. We commend the School Board for approving a curriculum that covers a broad range of topics, including the displacement of indigenous peoples, the connections between slavery and mass incarceration, and the struggles of ethnic minorities worldwide.

We affirm our strong support for the inclusion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the curriculum. This curriculum provides a balanced and factual overview of historical events, offering a proper historical context for the Palestinian dispossession following the Second World War.

Furthermore, we appreciate that the curriculum draws parallels between the Palestinian struggle and other global issues, such as the experiences of Kurds and Rwandans. It also acknowledges the historical persecution of Jewish people, including the Holocaust and Russian pogroms.

We firmly reject any baseless accusations of antisemitism linked to the curriculum. Legitimate criticism of Israel's policies towards Palestinians is not hate; it is a necessary component of open dialogue.

The United Nations, in a 2022 report by the Special Rapporteur, classified Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as "illegal" and as constituting "apartheid." These are complex issues deserving of discussion within the curriculum, as they align with the UN's definition of apartheid.

We urge the Santa Ana Unified School District and Superintendent Jerry Almendarez to stand strong against any attempts to block or alter this critical curriculum. Our students deserve access to this essential history regarding historically marginalized communities.

By signing this petition, we express our unwavering support for maintaining the Ethnic Studies Curriculum in its current form and our commitment to education that nurtures informed, compassionate, and justice-driven individuals.

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