The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) has elected a new vice president, Deb Gesualdo, who has a history of expressing anti-American and anti-Israel views. Gesualdo, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has denounced the United States as a "fascist oligarchy" and objected to national borders as a "construct of colonizers".
The MTA, an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), elected Gesualdo alongside Matt Bach as its new president. Both Gesualdo and Bach are members of Educators for a Democratic Union, the MTA's progressive caucus, which aims to "build a … social justice movement in our union and communities" and "dismantle structures of oppression within our union as well as other institutions".
Background on Gesualdo's Views
Gesualdo has been open about her views on social media, calling for anti-government uprisings against the "fascist" United States. She has also used children's cartoons to promote far-left and socialist ideology, denouncing national borders and advocating for a "class war". Additionally, Gesualdo has pushed anti-Israel policies within the MTA, including a resolution accusing Israel of carrying out a "genocidal assault" in Gaza.
The election of Gesualdo and Bach has raised concerns about the MTA's support for anti-Israel terrorism and its handling of antisemitism. The union's outgoing president, Max Page, faced criticism for educational materials offered to teachers, including an image of a dollar bill folded into a Star of David, which was deemed "antisemitic imagery" by state representative Simon Cataldo.
The MTA's parent organization, the NEA, has also faced complaints over antisemitism. The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed a civil rights complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last month, alleging that the union subjected Jewish members to an antisemitic environment.