TRENTON, N.J. – Two of New Jersey’s most prominent Democrats — Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Rep. Josh Gottheimer — are jointly calling for the ouster of a state teacher and union magazine editor accused of spreading antisemitic and pro-Hamas messages online.
Correction: This article has been updated to clarify that Mikie Sherrill only wants the woman removed from her position as editor, not fired from job.
Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor, and Gottheimer both issued statements Monday urging the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) to fire Ayat Oraby, who was recently appointed as an editor of the union’s flagship publication, the NJEA Review.
“I’m outraged by Ms. Oraby’s antisemitic, pro-Hamas social media posts,” Sherrill said. “This is unacceptable, and the NJEA needs to immediately act and fire her from this position. An individual with bigoted views has no place as an editor of a magazine distributed to our state’s teachers.”
Sherrill stopped short of demanding she loses her job completely.
Gottheimer echoed that demand in a sharply worded letter to NJEA President Steve Beatty, describing Oraby’s posts as “divisive, violent, and hate-filled rhetoric” that violates the union’s stated commitment to inclusion and safety.
The congressman cited numerous verified posts and writings in which Oraby allegedly praised Hamas fighters as “martyrs,” spread conspiracy theories blaming Israel for the October 7 massacre, and used slurs against Jews and Coptic Christians. He also accused her of publicly supporting groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated a terrorist organization in several countries.
Gottheimer’s letter detailed how Oraby’s language “directly invokes violence and dehumanization,” including a 2024 post praying that Israeli leaders’ “bodies be turned into pieces.” He argued such statements breach NJEA policy, which prohibits members from engaging in discriminatory or violent speech.
The controversy comes just weeks after the NJEA endorsed Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaign, placing added pressure on the state’s largest teachers’ union to respond swiftly.
“The NJEA Review should always uphold the highest standards of professionalism and inclusivity,” Gottheimer wrote. “This principle should hold true regardless of what race, religion, or nationality is being attacked.”
The NJEA has not yet announced whether it will remove Oraby from her editorial role.
The calls mark a rare moment of unified outrage within New Jersey’s Democratic ranks — and a political test of how far the state’s education leaders are willing to go to confront hate speech in their own ranks.
When it comes to classroom values, Sherrill and Gottheimer are leaving no room for interpretation.
