Freedom Foundation Files Federal Lawsuit Against Portland Association of Teachers and Portland Public Schools Over Antisemitism 

Portland, OR —The Freedom Foundation yesterday evening filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Jewish public-school teacher in Oregon against both the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) and Portland Public Schools (PPS). The lawsuit arises from the teacher being compelled by state law to associate with PAT, despite the union’s repeated engagement in antisemitic and hateful advocacy both in and out of the classroom — and the school district’s failure to address it. 

Out of concern for retribution from the union and the school district, the teacher is identified anonymously in the suit as John Doe. 

The lawsuit challenges the state’s system of exclusive representation, which requires public employees — regardless of union membership — to be represented by a designated union.  

The suit alleges that both PAT and PPS have created and sustained a hostile work environment for Jewish educators, and that the district actively ignored the plaintiff’s concerns. Rather than addressing the hostility, Portland Public Schools did the opposite — by enabling, defending, or remaining complicit in the union’s antisemitic conduct. 

By compelling these teachers to maintain a legal affiliation with an organization that actively contradicts their values, and by failing to protect them from religious discrimination in the workplace, the State of Oregon and Portland Public Schools are violating their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association.  

“No one should be forced to associate with a union that promotes radical antisemitism, woke ideology, and outright hatred,” said Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation. “But what’s even more shocking is how Portland Public Schools didn’t just ignore this antisemitism — they enabled it. They fostered a workplace where Jewish teachers felt threatened, silenced, and isolated. These educators didn’t sign up for politics or propaganda — they signed up to teach. Instead, Oregon law has bound them to an organization that violates their faith and their First Amendment rights. We refuse to stand by while this continues. We will hold the union and the district accountable.” 

The Freedom Foundation also filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging that the School District violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating against the complainant and fostering a hostile work environment. 

PAT has demonstrated ongoing hostility toward Jewish beliefs through actions including:  

• Co-authoring the “Teach Palestine” guide with Oregon Educators for Palestine, which urges educators to present a singular, anti-Israel perspective in classrooms. While public pressure resulted in PAT taking this “guide” off its website, PAT has not repudiated its content and remains associated with the Oregon Educators for Palestine.   

• Publishing “Know Your Rights! Teaching & Organizing for Palestine Within Portland Public Schools,” a document that further promotes a one-sided political narrative against Israel for classroom use.  

• Defending  the use of the phrase “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free,” widely recognized as a call for the elimination of the state of Israel.  

• Displaying pro-Palestinian symbols, including the Palestinian flag, in school common areas, contributing to a politically charged atmosphere.  

• Organizing in-school meetings and “prayer circles” focused on Palestinian advocacy, further marginalizing dissenting voices, particularly those of Jewish teachers.  

The full complaint can be found here.