Yard sign condemning antisemitism on college campuses sparks free speech debate

Jeff and Rachel Lobman did not expect to receive backlash when they put up a sign reading "Jewish students deserve to be safe on campus" in the yard of their home in a suburb of Philadelphia. When their son was home from college for winter break, the Lobmans posted the sign to symbolize their solidarity with Jewish college students who experienced antisemitism in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks. 

Lower Merion School District (LMSD) Board member Anna Shurak, who happens to be the Lobmans' next-door neighbor, took issue with the sign. According to the Lobmans, before Shurak reached out asking them to remove the sign, she blocked it with a wheelbarrow and dirt. In response, the Lobmans elevated the sign, but Shurak then used a Philadelphia Eagles flag to block it a second time.

The Lobmans reached out to local officials about the ongoing situation, one of whom was Lower Merion County Board of Commissioners member Gilda Kramer. Jeff Lobman later described the conversation with Kramer as "invasive and disturbing," saying that the commissioner asked them to modify the sign while speaking in her official capacity. 

In February, the Lobmans presented their case during a meeting of the Board of Commissioners. In his presentation, Jeff Lobman told the board that "the net effect of Anna's actions was to diminish our free speech and convey that her message is worthwhile and ours is not, a similar theme to something we learned she advocated publicly about in her elected role."

However, the sign attracted attention from other neighbors, who began telling the Lobmans about what was happening in the local school district.

When they put up the sign, the Lobmans, who have a child in private school, did not realize that there was an ongoing battle in the local school district about the handling of antisemitism.

"A few weeks ago, there was a community meeting about Jewish children not feeling safe at Lower Merion schools that highlighted disturbing incidents of verbal and physical assaults," Jeff Lobman told the board. "We made the connection to our sign and realized how wrong it was for Anna to censor a current local issue in a political campaign."

Jeff and Rachel Lobman were not alone in their concerns about free speech. Steve Rosenberg, Jewish Community consultant serving as Philadelphia Regional Director for The North American Values Institute, agreed.

"The idea that an elected school board member would go to such lengths to obstruct a sign that simply states 'Jewish students deserve to be safe on campus' is beyond troubling-it's appalling. This incident is not just about a sign; it's about a growing and dangerous trend of silencing Jewish voices under the guise of 'keeping the peace.' We cannot allow this kind of blatant intimidation to stand, especially in a district where parents are already deeply concerned about antisemitism," Steve Rosenberg told Fox News Digital.

Shurak did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.