Georgia Passes Historic Antisemitism Bill
On January 31, Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 30, known as the antisemitism bill, into law. This bill adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism in helping Georgia state agencies understand what constitutes antisemitism when deciding if certain offenses rise to the level of a hate crime. The definition adopted reads: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Georgia Commission on the Holocaust Executive Director Sally Levine offered comments in support of the legislation at the state Senate hearing on January 22. She said, “Our laws reflect our beliefs and values. In opposing and defining antisemitism, we emphatically state who we are. In the face of rising antisemitism, here in Georgia, in our democratic society, we must not stay silent, we must not tolerate hate, racism and antisemitism.” Read Sally Levine’s full statement. Read Governor Kemp’s remarks made at the bill’s signing.
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