The state House voted 105-4 Wednesday to expand the definition of antisemitism in state law. House Speaker Tim Moore said the bill is needed to respond to a rise in hate speech and attacks on Jewish people.
If it becomes law, North Carolina would join other states in using a definit…
The state House voted 105-4 Wednesday to expand the definition of antisemitism in state law. House Speaker Tim Moore said the bill is needed to respond to a rise in hate speech and attacks on Jewish people.
If it becomes law, North Carolina would join other states in using a definition created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. That definition includes several types of criticism against Israel as examples of antisemitism. The group asserts that antisemitism includes "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor" and "applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation."
"North Carolina already has hate crime statutes in place, but there really is not a working definition of what truly constitutes antisemitism," Moore said Wednesday. "This is very timely because of what we have seen across this country, and even right here in North Carolina."
While only a few House members voted against the bill, several groups held a press conference earlier Wednesday opposing the measure. Abby Lublin with Carolina Jews for Justice says the legislation, titled the "SHALOM Act," would harm free speech without protecting Jewish people.
"This is not a serious bill to address antisemitism, OK?" she said during a news conference opposing the measure that included the ACLU and other groups. "By conflating and connecting the protection of all Jewish people with limitations on criticism of the State of Israel, the bill sponsors get to exploit Jews for political gain."
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This is from WUNC:
The state House voted 105-4 Wednesday to expand the definition of antisemitism in state law. House Speaker Tim Moore said the bill is needed to respond to a rise in hate speech and attacks on Jewish people.
If it becomes law, North Carolina would join other states in using a definition created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. That definition includes several types of criticism against Israel as examples of antisemitism. The group asserts that antisemitism includes "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor" and "applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation."
"North Carolina already has hate crime statutes in place, but there really is not a working definition of what truly constitutes antisemitism," Moore said Wednesday. "This is very timely because of what we have seen across this country, and even right here in North Carolina."
While only a few House members voted against the bill, several groups held a press conference earlier Wednesday opposing the measure. Abby Lublin with Carolina Jews for Justice says the legislation, titled the "SHALOM Act," would harm free speech without protecting Jewish people.
"This is not a serious bill to address antisemitism, OK?" she said during a news conference opposing the measure that included the ACLU and other groups. "By conflating and connecting the protection of all Jewish people with limitations on criticism of the State of Israel, the bill sponsors get to exploit Jews for political gain."