Antisemitism Redefinition

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related Bills: HB 2357 (companion), SB 2139.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related Bills: SB 2389 (companion), SB 2139.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires state educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel of “demonizing Israel,” “applying a double standard to Israel,” and “delegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related bill: SB 581.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires state educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel of “demoniz[ing] Israel,” applying a “double standard for Israel,” and “delegitimiz[ing] Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related bill: HB 885.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires the state, including state and local agencies, to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of state anti-discrimination laws. The bill defines antisemitism to include IHRA definition and its contemporary examples related to Israel, which include: “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” and “applying double standards” to Israel. The definition conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Jewish hatred, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights potentially in violation of the First Amendment.

South Carolina has passed similar provisions that apply to discrimination in the public education system as part of its annual budget bills since 2018 (H4950, H4000). HB 5287 would codify this problematic definition and expand its use beyond the education context to all state agencies. 

The lead sponsor of HB 5287, Rep. Alan Clemmons, has advocated for legislation aimed at silencing advocates for Palestinian rights as a board member and former chairman of ALEC, the rightwing bill mill that has pushed numerous racist policies, including Stand Your Ground laws and anti-pipeline protest laws. 

This antisemitism redefinition provision requires South Carolina public colleges and universities to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion. The bill includes some contemporary examples related to Israel, such as: “applying double standards,” “multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,”  and “denying Israel the right to exist.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment.

The provisions were attached as a rider to the 2020-2021 appropriations bill. Similar provisions were passed in the 2018-2019 (H4950) and 2019-2020 (H4000) budgets, which expire at the end of the fiscal year. Standalone bills attempting to codify the distorted definition have failed (H3643, H5287).

This antisemitism redefinition provision requires South Carolina public colleges and universities to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion. The definition includes some contemporary examples related to Israel, such as “applying double standards,” “multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “denying Israel the right to exist. The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment.

The provisions were attached as a rider to the 2019-2020 appropriations bill, which expires at the end of the fiscal year. Similar provisions were passed in the 2018-2019 budget (H4950) and are included in the 2020-2021 bill (H5201).

This antisemitism redefinition provision requires South Carolina public colleges and universities to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion. The definition includes some contemporary examples related to Israel, such as “applying double standards,” “multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “denying Israel the right to exist. The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment.

The provisions were attached as a rider to the 2018-2019 appropriations bill, which expires at the end of the fiscal year, after a standalone version of the bill (H3643) failed to pass the Senate in 2017. The provision was renewed in the 2019-2020 budget (H4000).

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires South Carolina public colleges and universities to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel of “demoniz[ing] Israel,” applying a “double standard for Israel,” including by “[m]ultilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,”  and “delegitimiz[ing] Israel.” The bill was defeated after activists and legal organizations raised concerns that it would require public colleges and universities to censor and suppress Palestine advocacy in violation of the First Amendment. Related legislation: H4950.

This antisemitism redefinition bill adopts a definition of antisemitism for use in enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws and regulations. Though the bill does not focus on criticism of Israel, the bill declares that the IHRA definition—a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass virtually all criticism of Israel—includes examples of “anti-Israel acts” that cross the line into antisemitism. This statement bolsters ongoing efforts to use the IHRA definition to suppress protected speech. The bill was introduced alongside companion bill A5939.