California School Board Trustee Promotes Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories, Report Finds
Gabriel Medina, a school board trustee from Pajaro Valley Unified School District in California, used his official Instagram to spread antisemitic conspiracy theories
Gabriel Medina, a trustee for Pajaro Valley Unified School District, used his official Instagram account—linked to the district—to promote antisemitic conspiracy theories and endorse political candidates, according to findings by the K12 Extremism Tracker. Medina shared posts falsely claiming a violent attacker was Jewish and a Zionist, and used the same account to celebrate partisan wins, link to the Green Party, and circulate a petition to lower the voting age.
False Claims and Partisan Messaging
One of the examples cited by the K12 Tracker is Medina’s repost of a viral claim identifying a Belarusian man involved in a violent assault as Jewish and a Zionist. The claim, which has no supporting evidence, spread widely through online networks known for antisemitic content. A separate social media analysis by Jewish Onliner, revealed that the rapid circulation of the post was likely part of a coordinated campaign designed to inject antisemitic narratives into broader political conversations. Another post of Medina’s called for shame on Democrats accusing them of “siding with Zionist effort to censor and undermine the legacy of Ethnic studies.”
Despite the lack of any verification, Medina reshared the claim from his official PVUSD Instagram account, which he uses for public communication with students, parents, and community members.
He has also posted statements calling for the resignation of Board President Olivia Flores, accusing her of ignoring constituents, supporting administrative failures, and lacking leadership. Although Medina publicly announced his intent to make this demand at a board meeting, he did not show up. Instead, his political allies, including UCSC professor Christine Hong—an academic affiliated with the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism and a campaign donor—attended and delivered his talking points.
A Governance Breakdown in Pajaro Valley
California law prohibits school officials from using district resources—including official social media accounts—for political endorsements or party advocacy. Medina’s use of a PVUSD-branded Instagram account to promote misleading claims and partisan causes raises potential legal issues, and at the very least reflects a disregard for established governance standards. When public officials use their roles to advance personal agendas under the banner of official authority, it shifts school boards away from transparency, accountability, and their core mission of serving students.