NORTHAMPTON — Over the course of two hours Monday at the State House in Boston, legislators sitting on the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism presented numerous pro-Palestinian exhibits — resources that educators might use in their classroom — drawn from a members-only section of the Massachusetts Teachers Association website.

For Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, who co-chairs the special commission, the exhibits all discuss the plight of Palestinians, but none show the Jewish or Israeli perspective, despite the complexities of understanding the geopolitical realities of the Middle East.

“If I had no interest in this region of the world, and just read the 89-plus documents that have been put forth, I’ll be very candid with you, I’d finish that and I would say, ‘Wow, those Jewish people are tough,’” Velis told MTA President Max Page of Amherst and Lexington educator Jessica Antoline, during a hearing Monday. “I would be someone who might take on an opinion that says, ‘I can’t believe this, how dare they?’”

“These documents, these resources, are incredibly one-sided,” Velis said.

Later on Monday, Page and MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy responded, calling the hearing “an inquisition that was beneath the dignity of the Legislature,” even as the largest union in the state is a willing ally in combating all intolerance.

“Yet, members and leaders of the commission chose instead to demonize our educators and their union through a selective presentation of material accessible only to union members via online resources about the war between Israel and Hamas,” Page and McCarthy said.

“The MTA has long championed civil rights and fought against prejudice and hate,” they said. “We are at a historic inflection point right now where the many civil rights won over the past several decades are at risk of being rolled back. The Trump administration will not simply stop with proclamations against diversity, equity and inclusion programs but will go as far as it can to strip away rights and protections against disenfranchised and marginalized groups.”

At the hearing, Rep. Simon Cataldo, D-Concord, who co-chairs the commission with Velis, went through exhibits, one showing a poster of President Joe Biden with the phrase “serial killer” written on his forehead, another depicting “Day of Rage,” and another showing the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, designated as a terrorist organization.

Cataldo said he was also troubled by a poster showing a man with a keffiyeh and holding an assault weapon, with the phrase, “What was taken by force can only be returned by force.”

He asked what data and research supports use of this material in classrooms in Massachusetts.

“These were resources provided for our members to think about and learn about as educators and citizens, and they were done thoughtfully and professionally, and that doesn’t mean one agrees with each one,” Page said.

Cataldo said there were no visuals or art about the Jewish or Israeli experiences. “If you don’t think that what we’re looking at is dangerous, then that is a little bit problematic,” he said.

“With respect, I understand what you are doing, I respect that, that’s part of your job or your personal goal,” Page said. “This not the Department of Education, we’re not setting our curriculum, we have curriculum standards our teachers teach to… we provided resources for our members to consider.”

By Exhibit 22, Page said he wouldn’t respond to any more questions.

“Representative, you’ve made your, point, and really you don’t need me here. You should just keep making your speech,” Page said.

Cataldo said this was an opportunity to discuss what teachers are putting in classrooms.

“So I take it that to the MTA, diverse perspective, you can correct me if I’m wrong, is it about lifting up the perspective of the people who celebrate the murder of Jews?” he asked.

Page responded by referencing the Anti-Defamation League’s defense of Elon Musk giving a Nazi salute, leading to commotion and to a gavel being used to bring calm to the room.

“The notion that the union is trying to indoctrinate our young people is not true,” Page said, adding that it has led to death threats and attacks against members and disrespect toward professionals.

This marked the fourth meeting of Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. Page began by reflecting that Jews have many different political views and offered a personal history of relatives murdered at Auschwitz.

“We need to be concerned with how antisemitic hate is connected and interwoven and inextricably bound up with hatred of other people and their religions,” Page said.

Page said MTA is a key force for public good and a union with a diversity of views. “It’s been painful to see members divided from members over this issue, although we are hardly alone in feeling the tear of debate over this issue,” Page said.

“As a teacher there are quite a lot of incredible resources out there on Oct. 7, I just want to make that very clear,” said Antoline, the Lexington educator.

“Teachers absolutely teach controversial materials they themselves don’t necessarily agree with, or believe in, we have methods and approaches to do that, to keep our children safe,” Antoline said.

Cataldo said the commission is looking into how antisemitism affects Jewish residents and others in the commonwealth, not to unduly interfere with MTA operations.

Velis said it’s not an anti-union hearing. “We are eternally grateful for the role our educators play here in the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Velis said.

Still, Velis said he’s had countless conversations with MTA folks who ask him why they are engaging in such a controversial, complex and nuanced conversation.

“Very candidly speaking, they’re scared and they’re scared they will step into it and deal with a lot of consequences that are out there,” Velis said.

He added that there appears to be disconnect between the local MTA members and the leadership.

“There’s a lot of concern, there’s a lot of people just saying can’t we get back to being teachers and educators, that’s something I hear over and over again,” Velis said.

Page said it’s an ongoing debate in the organization, but that members and the board have demanded resources, especially over the conflict in the Middle East.

“We don’t have a foreign policy department and decide what to talk about it,” Page said.

“We will not be bullied by special interest groups or by politicians looking to score points,” Page and McCarthy said. “Our union’s values are rooted in democracy and justice, and our goal is unwavering: ensuring every student in a Massachusetts public school, college and university can grow and thrive.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.