The teacher chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers passed a resolution at its October member meeting that states the union rejects violence "against all civilians whether Israeli or Palestine," and called the Israeli system of “occupation and apartheid” the “root cause" of the conflict. In the statement, the union asks the Minnesota legislature to repeal state laws that bar the state from contracting with firms that support the “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” movement because it "discriminates against Palestinian refugees, their families, and their supporters."

In response to the resolution, nearly 800 Minneapolis Public Schools parents, staff and community members signed a public letter addressed to the district and school board, asking them to distance themselves from the resolution and provide space for community dialogue. The public letter called the union's resolution “antisemitic.”

Marcia Howard, the acting president of the teacher chapter, called those criticizing the resolution “tender-hearted about anything that suggests that, frankly, Israel could be in the wrong,” in an interview with The Nation.

At the union’s Nov. 29 meeting, members approved a second resolution apologizing for the original resolution, and acknowledging the harm and division the resolution had caused to members, parents, students and community members. The resolution passed at the Nov. 29 meeting by 115 yes to 69 no votes. Meeting attendance on Nov. 29 was higher than on Oct. 25.