We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all New Jersey residents. In light of the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents, we join those calling upon the New Jersey Legislature to pass Assembly Bill A3558 and Senate Bill S1292, and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
Events following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel have shown that antisemitism is a real and present danger. We have seen antisemitic protests in our streets and students targeted on college campuses. History has taught us that antisemitism endangers any society which allows it to fester, so its rise threatens us all and must be confronted.
Adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism provides crucial assistance to the public, law enforcement, policymakers and educators in identifying antisemitism, monitoring it, investigating it, combating it, educating the public about it, and keeping our state’s residents safe from it. Importantly, the definition does not infringe on free speech rights, which we are equally committed to safeguarding.
It is no surprise that the IHRA definition of antisemitism has already been adopted by numerous countries, legislative bodies and institutions worldwide, among them 45 countries (including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, and France) and more than 30 U.S. state governments. Adopting a clear and actionable framework to combat antisemitism is a sensible step that New Jersey should take.
We urge our fellow New Jersey residents to join us in supporting this important legislation. Together, let us take a stand against hatred and ensure that all New Jersey residents are protected from it.
