Contact the Wisconsin Legislature on AB 446/SB 445 & Sign the Petition!

Draft legislation to adopt the controversial and widely criticized International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism is circulating. This definition would be used to make criticism of Israel grounds to enhance any criminal charge as a “hate crime.” It would be used against those who want to speak up against a country with a documented history of human rights violations and war crimes.

This is an assault on our freedom of speech and an insult to millions of people living through starvation, apartheid and genocide in Palestine, who need your voice now more than ever.

You can help stop this legislation in its tracks by making these phone calls:

1. Call State Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer at (608) 237-9166
2. Call State Senate Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein at (608) 266-6670
3. Call your own State Representative and Senator.

Jewish Voice for Peace-Milwaukee explains why the IHRA definition is so dangerous:

The IHRA definition dangerously conflates criticism of the Israeli state with antisemitism, suppressing efforts to hold the Israeli government accountable for human rights violations, rather than preventing attacks against Jewish people and Judaism.

The IHRA definition is a clear attack against constitutionally protected speech. Seven of the IHRA definition’s eleven contemporary examples of antisemitism focus on Israel.

Attempts to codify the definition into law have been strongly opposed by a broad cross-section of civil liberties groups, Jewish and Palestinian human rights organizations, as well as major newspaper editorial boards. These include, but are not limited to: the ACLU, the National Lawyers Guild, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Palestine Legal, Jewish Voice for Peace, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, the US Reform movement, J Street, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post.

The IHRA definition is so controversial and widely opposed that over 1300 prominent Jewish scholars, including scholars of Jewish, Holocaust, Palestine/Israel, and Middle East studies have rejected this definition.

For ideas on what to say when you call, check out this from Code Pink Madison:

Sign the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance Petition

To: Wisconsin State Senators and Representatives

Dear Distinguished Wisconsin Representatives,

We urge you to oppose the codification of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its contemporary examples, into Wisconsin state law. While we unequivocally condemn antisemitism in all its forms and recognize the urgent need to combat hatred and discrimination, we believe the IHRA definition is flawed and poses a significant risk to civil liberties, including free speech, academic freedom, and the broader fight for justice and equality.

Why the IHRA Definition is Problematic

The IHRA definition includes a core statement and eleven examples, seven of which relate to criticism of the State of Israel. This creates ambiguity that can conflate legitimate political critique with antisemitism. This risks stifling free expression and silencing advocacy for Palestinian human rights, which is critical to justice and equality for all. 

• The definition’s primary author, Ken Stern, has warned that it can be used a “blunt instrument” to label critics of Israel as antisemitic, even when their speech is protected under the First Amendment 
• The definition was not intended as a legal framework but as a non-binding tool for data collection
• Academics and scholars globally, have opposed the definition, citing its potential to suppress academic freedom and activism 
• In Wisconsin, its adoption could exacerbate tensions on university campuses, creating a chilling effect on students and faculty who engage in legitimate critique of Israeli policies 

A Better Way Forward

Wisconsin can lead in crafting a balanced approach that combats antisemitism while preserving free expression. We propose the following actions:

• Strengthen Anti-Hate Education: Expand Wisconsin Act 30 to include robust curricula on antisemitism, racism, and other forms of discrimination, emphasizing historical context without conflating political critique with hate.
• Enhance Law Enforcement Training: Develop clear, narrowly tailored guidelines for identifying and prosecuting hate crimes, ensuring antisemitic incidents are addressed without relying on vague definitions that could be misused.
• Promote Community Dialogue: Support initiatives that foster mutual understanding and combat all forms of prejudice collaboratively.
• Protect Free Speech: Ensure that Wisconsin’s laws and policies uphold the First Amendment, safeguarding the right to criticize any government, including Israel’s.
• Utilize Current Hate Crime Laws: In Wisconsin, hate crime laws in Wisconsin is under utilized. In 2021, nearly half of Wisconsin’s counties never used the hate penalty in the last five years. 

Conclusion

Wisconsin’s motto, “Forward,” reflects a commitment to progress. We urge you to reject the IHRA definition and instead adopt a comprehensive, inclusive strategy that effectively combats antisemitism while safeguarding the fundamental rights of all Wisconsin residents. Let us build a state where all communities feel safe, respected, and free to express their views without fear of censorship.

Sincerely,

Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance

More on Definitions of Antisemitism

• Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism — “discrimination, prejudice, hostility or violence against Jews as Jews (or Jewish institutions as Jewish).”
• In the Shadow of the Holocaust, Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, December 9, 2023. How two definitions of antisemitsm differ.
• Debunking The Myth That Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitic, Peter Beinart, The Forward, February 27, 2019. Politicians are responding to rising antisemitism not by protecting Jews but by victimizing Palestinians.