Defending the National Education Association’s Right to Advocate

Read the PDF of this letter here.

Defending the National Education Association’s Right to Advocate

Dear Member of Congress:

Whether we’re from cities, suburbs, or rural communities, we all depend on public schools and the educators in these schools who support our children and their learning. Teachers, parents, and students rely on nonprofits, including unions, as vehicles to express their views, petition the government, and advocate for their families. Every community benefits when educators can advocate for strong public schools, when our children have access to the resources they need to learn and thrive, and when civil society can serve as a check on power.

Yet recent actions from Congress and the administration have been devastating for students, parents, and teachers. Instead of fixing the problem, some in Congress are attempting to destroy one of the leading organizations advocating for public education, for good jobs, and for children — the National Education Association (NEA). This is part of a broader assault on any independent voice that may oppose the actions of this administration — including law firms, media, universities, nonprofits, charities, and labor unions — by stripping federal funding, launching investigations, and threatening tax-exempt status.

Attacks on educators and their union, including the authoritarian attacks we’re seeing from the Trump administration’s efforts to destroy public education, will only serve to hurt students across this country. The administration is working to tear down those who push back brick-by-brick. Today, they are focused on the NEA. Who will it be tomorrow?

The administration and their allies in Congress have a track record of targeting unions and advocates in an attempt to silence our collective voices. If we let that happen, the children in our communities will suffer. We all must unite together against attacks on our schools, on our children, and on the free exchange of ideas.

When the government uses its power to punish organizations for their advocacy, it attacks freedom of speech and freedom of association, threatening any person or group who wishes to educate the public and make demands of elected leaders.

The NEA represents more than 3 million educators in more than 14,000 communities across every state in America. These are the teachers who help your child learn to read, the counselors who support struggling students, and the support staff who keep schools running safely. When you attack their right to advocate for students, educators, and public education, you are attacking the voices of millions of working families who depend on strong public schools.

This assault doesn’t start or stop with the NEA. It impacts any organization that challenges the administration’s agenda of concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few while dismantling the public institutions that serve everyone. While the NEA fights for smaller class sizes, adequate school funding, and support for teachers, this administration has:

• Withheld $6.9 billion in federal education funding that pays for reading specialists, mental health counselors, and support for English learners
• Systematically dismantled the Department of Education, eliminating programs that help recruit teachers to high-need schools
• Shuttered civil rights enforcement offices that protect students from discrimination and ensure schools serve all children of all races, religions, backgrounds, and abilities
• Attacked collective bargaining rights that help ensure quality educators can afford to stay in the profession and serve students long term

For these reasons, we call on Congress to reject government retaliation against advocacy groups and oppose efforts to silence organizations advocating for the people they serve. This protects the constitutional principles that guarantee all Americans’ right to organize, advocate, and petition the government.

The American people deserve a government that serves all of us, not one that silences those who dare to speak up. We urge you to join us in defending these fundamental principles. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact Kanya Bennett, managing director of government affairs at The Leadership Conference, at [email protected].

Sincerely,

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
A. Philip Randolph Institute
Action Center on Race and the Economy
Advancement Project
The Advocacy Institute
The Advocates for Human Rights
AFL-CIO
African American Policy Forum
AFT | Education, Healthcare, Public Services
Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice
Alliance for Justice
Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
American Association of University Professors
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Atheists
American Civil Liberties Union
American Constitution Society
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers
American Friends Service Committee
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
American Pride Rises
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
Americans for Financial Reform
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Amnesty International USA
Arab American Institute
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Black Youth Vote
Branch4
BWI Global Union
Care in Action
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Center for Law and Social Policy
The Chamberlain Network
Child Labor Coalition
Choose Democracy
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Color Of Change
Common Cause
CommonDefense.us
Community Change Action
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
Economic Policy Institute
EdTrust
Education Law Center
End Citizens United
Equal Rights Advocates
Fair Count Inc
Fair Elections Center
Fair Share America
Faithful America
Family Values @ Work
Family Values @ Work Action
Feminist Majority Foundation
First Focus Campaign for Children
For Our Future
Free Press Action
Freedom From Religion Foundation
Higher Ed Labor United
Hispanic Federation
HREA
Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights First
In the Public Interest
Indivisible
Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
International Union of Painters & Allied Trades
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Labor Committee
Just Solutions
Kids Can’t Wait
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Lawyers for Good Government
League of Conservation Voters
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
League of Women Voters of the United States
MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund)
Matthew Shepard Foundation
The Methodist Evangical Church in the USA
Mi Familia Vota
Mi Vecino
Middle Collegiate Church
MoveOn
Muslim Advocates
NAACP
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
National Action Network
National African American Clergy Network
National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE)
National Association of Social Workers
National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest)
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
National Consumers League
The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Education Association Retirees Organization (NEARO)
National Employment Law Project
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Immigration Law Center
National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC)
National Nurses United
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for New Americans
National Partnership for Women & Families
National PLACE
National Women’s Law Center
NBJC
NCNW
NEA Arab American Caucus
NEA Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus
NEA Aspiring Educators
NEA Black Caucus
NEA Hispanic Caucus
Network for Public Education Action
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO
Our Schools USA
Parent Coalition for Student Privacy
ParentsTogether Action
Partnership for the Future of Learning
Pastors for Children
People For the American Way
People Power United
People’s Action Institute
Poder Latinx
Popular Democracy
Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
Public Citizen
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Reproductive Freedom for All
SAGE
Saphron Initiative
Secure Elections Network
SEIU
The Sikh Coalition
Sisters Lead Sisters Vote
Sojourners
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
Southern Poverty Law Center
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Stand Up America
State Voices
Stop AAPI Hate
Sunrise Movement
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
UnidosUS
UnidosUS Action Fund
Unite Here
United Auto Workers (UAW)
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE)
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Vladimir & Araxia Buckhantz Foundation
Voices for Progress
Voto Latino
Western States Center
Win With Black Women
The Workers Circle
Working America
Working Families Party
WorkLife Law
Young Democratic Socialists of America

STATE, LOCAL, AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

ALASKA
Alaska Nurses Association

ARIZONA
America’s Future Project
Arizona AFL-CIO
Arizona American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees
Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement
Arizona Education Association
Arizona Education Association Retired
Arizona Justice Alliance
Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind Education Association
Arizona Students’ Association
AZ Alliance for Retired Americans
Balsz Education Association
Casa Grande EA
Chandler Education Association
Chino Valley Education Association
Chispa Arizona
Deer Valley Education Association
Educational Support Professionals of Chandler
Flowing Wells Education Association
Fuerte Arts Movement
Gilbert Education Association
Glendale Education Association
Higley Education Association
Isaac District Education Association
LUCHA
Marana Education Association
National Council of Jewish Women Arizona
One Arizona
Opportunity Arizona
Our Voice Our Vote AZ
Peoria Education Association
Phoenix Elementary ESPA
Pima Community College Education Association
Progress Arizona
Save Our Schools Arizona
Secular AZ
Sunnyside Education Association
Tempe Secondary Education Association
Tolleson Union Education Association
UFCW Local 99

ARKANSAS
Arkansas Citizens First Congress
Arkansas Education Association
Arkansas Public Policy Panel

CALIFORNIA
California Faculty Association (CFA)
California Nurses Association
CSU-AAUP
CSUEU
Equality California
Evolve California
Lodi Education Association
Old Adobe Teachers Association
Northcoast Early Childhood Workers #6397
Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco
SEIU Local 221
Turlock Teachers Association
Workers United, Western States Regional Joint Board

COLORADO
Black Parent Network
Colorado Education Association
COWINS Local 1876
PEAK Parent Center

CONNECTICUT
4Cs SEIU 1973
Connecticut Education Association
Connecticut For All
CT Association of School Librarians (CASL)
New Haven Federation of Teachers Local 933
SEIU 1199NE

DELAWARE
Delaware State Education Association Aspiring Educators

FLORIDA
Alachua County Education Association
American Association of University Women of Florida
Brevard Federation of Teachers
Broward Teachers Union
Citizens for Truth and Justice in Education
Collier County Education Association
Communications Workers of America Local 3102
Desoto County Educators Association
Duval Teachers United
The Education Association of St. Lucie
Escambia Education Association
Families for Strong Public Schools
Florida Council of Churches
Florida Education Association
Florida State University Chapter of United Faculty of Florida-Graduate Assistants United
Gadsden Educational Staff Professional Association
Hendry Educational Support Personnel Association
Hernando Classroom Teachers’ Association
Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association
Hillsborough School Employees Federation
Husw4730
IBEW Local 756
Jacksonville Chapter of the National Organization for Women
Leon Educational Staff Professional Association
Levy County Education Association
Manatee Education Association
Marion Education Association
Marion Educational Support Professional
Martin County Education Association
Nassau Educational Support Personnel Association
Nassau Teachers’ Association
NC-UFF
Orange County Classroom Teachers Association
Pastors For Florida Children
PCTA
Pinellas Educational Support Professionals Association
Pinellas Parents Advocating for Public Schools
Putnam Federation of Teachers/United
Santa Rosa Education Association
SEIU Florida State Council
Seminole Education Association
St Johns Education Association
St Lucie County TIGER PAC
State Voices Florida
Sumter County Education Association
Support Our Schools
Support Personnel Association of Lee County
UA Plumbers 295
UFF-UCF
UFF-FAU
UFF-FGCU
UFF-SPC
Union of Escambia Education Staff Professionals
United Faculty of Florida
United Faculty of Florida – Florida International University
United Faculty of Florida – USF Chapter
United Faculty of Florida – University of Florida
United Faculty of Miami Dade College
University of Florida Graduate Assistants United
University of South Florida Graduate Assistants United
Volusia United Educators
Volusia/Flagler CLC, AFL-CIO
Voters for Strong Public Schools
Walton County Education Association (FL)

GEORGIA
CWA District 3
Fair Fight Action
Georgia Association of Educators

HAWAI’I
Hawai’i State Teachers Association
University of Hawaii Professional Assembly

ILLINOIS
Bloomington Education Association
CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals
Chicago Jewish Labor Committee
Chicago Teachers Union
Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Education Association
Illinois Education Association Aspiring Educators
Illinois Families for Public Schools
Illinois Federation of Teachers
Network 49

INDIANA
CHMT Chapter of Indiana State Teachers Association, Inc.
Crawfordsville Education Association
Evansville Teachers Association
Fort Wayne Education Association
Indiana State Teachers Association
Indianapolis Education Association (IEA)
Jay Classroom Teachers Association, Portland, IN
Logansport Education Association
Madison Teachers’ Association
Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education
Pastors for Indiana Children
Pike County Teachers Association
Spencer-Owen Education Association

IOWA
Iowa State Education Association
Iowans for Public Education

KANSAS
AFT Kansas
Families Together, Inc.
Game On for Kansas Schools
Kansas NEA
Lawrence Education Association

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Education Association Aspiring Educators

LOUISIANA
East Baton Rouge Parish Association of Educators
Louisiana Association of Educators
St. Landry Association of Educators

MAINE
Androscoggin Retired Educators Association
Bangor Education Association
Educators for a Multilingual Maine
Franklin County Retired Educators (Maine)
Maine Building & Construction Trades Council
Maine Education Association
Maine People’s Alliance
MSEA SEIU Local 1989

MARYLAND
Maryland State Education Association (MSEA)
Public Justice Center
SEIU Local 500
The Parents’ Place of MD

MASSACHUSETTS
AFT Massachusetts
Malden Education Association
Massachusetts Action for Justice
New England Jewish Labor Committee
North Attleboro Federation of Teachers

MICHIGAN
Aspiring Educators of Michigan
Aspiring Educators of Michigan State
Local 223 UWUA AFL-CIO
MEA-NEA Local 1
Michigan Education Association
Michigan League for Public Policy
Support Forest Hills Public Schools

MINNESOTA
Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers #1 MN/ND/SD
AFSCME 65
Education Minnesota
Minnesota AFL-CIO
Minnesota Alliance for Retired Americans
Minnesota Nurses Association
Minnesota State Retiree Council, AFL-CIO
SEIU Local 284
St. Paul Regional Labor Federation Retiree Council
UA Local 15 Minneapolis and St. Cloud MN
UFCW Local 663
Unite Here Local 17
Workers Confluence
West Red River Valley ALC Minnesota, North Dakota AFL CIO

MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Association of Educators
Parents for Public Schools of Greenwood & Leflore County, Inc

MISSOURI
Missouri National Education Association Aspiring Educators
Missouri NEA

MONTANA
Big Sky 55+
Catalyst MT
Montana AFL-CIO
Montana Budget & Policy Center
Montana Federation of Public Employees
Montana Nurses Association
Montana Public Interest Research Group
Montanans Organized for Education

NEVADA
Battle Born Progress
National Action Network LV
Native Voters Alliance Nevada
Nevada Chapter of the National Organization of Women
New Day Nevada
One APIA Nevada
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
Silver State Equality
UNITE HERE Culinary Workers Union, Local 226

NEW HAMPSHIRE
American Friends Service Committee-New Hampshire Program
New Hampshire Conference United Church of Christ Economic Justice Ministry
New Hampshire Faith & Labor Alliance
New Hampshire Voices of Faith
Occupy NH Seacoast

NEW JERSEY
AFT New Jersey
Hudson County Central Labor Council, Retirees Comm.
New Jersey Jewish Labor Committee
NJ21United
Save Our Schools New Jersey

NEW MEXICO
AFT New Mexico

NEW YORK STATE
Class Size Matters
New York State United Teachers
NYS Public Employees Federation
NYSUT Retiree Council 22
Rochester Coalition for Public Education
Sun River Health
United Hebrew Trades – New York Jewish Labor Committee
United University Professions/AFT 2190
Win With Black Women New York

NORTH CAROLINA
FIRST
North Carolina Associations of Educators
North Carolina Justice Center

OHIO
OHIO – Public Education Partners
Ohio Education Association- Aspiring Educators
Ohio Federation of Teachers
Westlake Teachers Association

OKLAHOMA
AFT Oklahoma
Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition

OREGON
Community and Parents for Public Schools Portland Chapter
Oregon Education Association Aspiring Educators
SEIU Local 49
SEIU Local 503

PENNSYLVANIA
AFT Pennsylvania
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers

RHODE ISLAND
AFSCME Rhode Island Retirees Chapter 94
FUERZA LABORAL
IBEW 2323
Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans
RI Employment Security Alliance Local 401 SEIU
RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals
UAW Local 7770
United Nurses and Allied Professionals

SOUTH CAROLINA
The South Carolina Education Association

TENNESSEE
SEIU Local 205
Tennessee BATs

TEXAS
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
Texas Kids Can’t Wait
Texas State Teachers Association-Aspiring Educators

VIRGIN ISLANDS
St. Thomas/St. John Federation of Teachers

VIRGINIA
Shenandoah University SVEA AE

WASHINGTON STATE
Bethel Education Association
Clover Park Education Association
Franklin Pierce Education Association
PAVE
Soundview Uniserv Council
United School Employees of Pasco
Washington District Education Association
UFCW 3000

WISCONSIN
A Better Wisconsin Together
Aspiring Educators of Wisconsin
Aspiring Educators UW-Madison
Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Schools & Communities United, Milwaukee-WI
WI Working Families Party
Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Wisconsin Public Education Action
Wisconsin Public Education Network

GLOBAL

ACT Philippines
AIFTO
AIPTF
All Ceylon Union of Teachers
Armenian Constitutional Right – Protective Centre NGO
Asociación de docentes de la Universidad de la República (Uruguay)
Australian Education Union
Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA)
Canadian Teachers’ Federation
CNTE – Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Educação do Brasil
CONADU
Confederación de Educadores Argentinos-CEA
CTERA
Education International Asia Pacific Region
EI
FECCOO
Federação Nacional dos Professores (FENPROF)
FENAPES
FGESRS
German Education Union (GEW)
GUPT
Himachal pradesh school lecturer association (HPSLA) Affiliated to All india federation of teachers organisation(AIFTO)
International Trade Union Confederation
KPSTA ( affiliated to AIPTF)
Kurdistan Teachers Union – Iraq
NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union
National Education Union (United Kingdom)
National Teacher’s Association, NTA Taiwan
Nepal Teachers Association, NTA
NUTP
Organización de Trabajadores de la Educación Auténtica
OTEP AUTENTICA SINDICATO NACIONAL
PPSTLL
Queensland Teachers’ Union
Secretaria General de CTERA
Sindicato de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores de la Educación Costarricense SEC
SindProifes
SNE/CDT MAROC
SNESUP Maroc
South African Democratic Teachers Union
Sutep
Syndicat national de l’enseignement membre de la fédération démocratique du travail
Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine
UEPC/CTERA
UNE
UNE-SN
Unión de trabajadores de la educación – U.TR.E
USLTS
UTE CTERA
UTELPa La Pampa Argentina