As the Massachusetts Teachers Association wades into the Israel-Hamas war, divisions rise among members

By James Vaznis and Suchita Nayar

For nearly two decades, Laurie Garcia had been an active member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Then the union began wading into the Israel-Hamas war.

In December, the MTA’s board of directors approved a cease-fire statement that equated Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s military actions against Hamas to a “genocidal war” against Palestinians.