active campaign

Tomorrow, Thursday, January 18, the Indiana House of Representatives will vote on HB 1002, and your voice needs to be heard.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) joins the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in strongly urging the Indiana Legislature to pass HB 1002 and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which will align Indiana with a widely-accepted standard.

The House Education Committee voted 12-0 in favor of HB 1002, which can be read in full HERE.

HB 1002 would adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism in Indiana, aligning the state with a widely-accepted standard, and serve as a useful tool for educators and administrators to identify and combat antisemitism.

Nearly 50 Jewish organizations and institutions in Indiana, in addition to 35 states and more than 1,200 institutions worldwide, have endorsed this definition.

Combating antisemitism is a non-partisan imperative, and defining antisemitism is fundamental to this endeavor.

Take Action!

If you are an Indiana resident, please email and call your State Representative and urge them to pass this legislation (sample language is below).

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Sample Script:

Dear Representative [Last Name],

I am a member of the local community, writing to you concerning the fight against antisemitism and in support of HB 1002. The Indiana Jewish community strongly endorses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and HB 1002. Given the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in the past three months, taking a strong stand against antisemitism is more important than ever.

The IHRA working definition serves as an educational tool to aid educators and administrators who are responsible for identifying and combating antisemitism. Thirty-five states, the U.S. Department of State, and over a thousand institutions globally, including nearly 50 Jewish organizations and institutions in Indiana, have endorsed this definition. By adopting this definition, Indiana aligns itself with a widely-accepted standard across the country, promoting a unified stance against antisemitism.

HB 1002, which adds the IHRA definition to the education code, not the criminal code, is a critical step in this direction. The definition does not preclude criticism of Israel similar to that of any other country. Last year, an identical bill, HB 1037, received unanimous support in the House, and I hope that HB 1002 will garner the same level of support this year.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I urge you to support HB 1002, as I trust that your commitment to fostering an inclusive and safe community will guide your decision.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]