Georgia legislators approve bill defining antisemitism in state law

Georgia lawmakers handed a bill Thursday that will outline antisemitism in state law, with Republicans uniting in assist of Israel’s struggle on Hamas and a few Democrats splitting over fears of suppressing assist for Palestinians.

“Today we can fight a pervasive and escalating threat in our state and fight it together,” mentioned Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy, a Macon Republican who guided the bill to Senate passage, 44-6. The measure had stalled in a Senate committee in 2023.

The House later agreed to adjustments, voting 129-5 for passage. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp mentioned he would signal the bill, saying it “builds on our commitment to protect Georgians from criminal acts, including those based on hate.”

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Sponsors say adopting the definition put ahead by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance would assist prosecutors and different officers establish hate crimes and unlawful discrimination focusing on Jewish individuals. Georgia has a hate crimes law that enables greater legal penalties for crimes motivated by sure varieties of bias.

The definition, which is simply referred to in the bill, describes antisemitism as “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.”

Some lawmakers opposed the bill, saying they thought it will be used to censor free speech rights.

The Georgia Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy, left, is seen shaking arms with a supporter on Jan. 25, 2024, on the State Capitol in Atlanta after a bill defining antisemitism in state law was handed. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

“The First Amendment ensures our rights as residents to criticize any authorities, overseas and home,” mentioned Sen. Nikki Merritt, a Lawrenceville Democrat. “Does our Constitution not mean anything?”

But supporters say the definition will solely come into play after somebody has dedicated a criminal offense.

“This legislation is not about stifling free speech,” Kennedy mentioned. “Nor is it about the government stopping someone from simply sharing their views. It is about safeguarding the dignity and the safety of our Jewish friends and neighbors.”

In not less than eight states nationwide, lawmakers are engaged on measures to outline antisemitism, a part of an upsurge of laws motivated in half by the Israel-Hamas struggle. Arkansas handed such a law final 12 months. New payments are pending this 12 months in Indiana, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and South Dakota.

The measure grew solely extra fraught with the beginning of the Israel-Hamas struggle. Some protesters chanting “Free Free Palestine!” have been dragged from a committee room by police Monday, prompting one arrest. That got here after some Jewish residents of Georgia testified that they had skilled a surge of bias incidents, together with an antisemitic group that hung a Jewish particular person in effigy outdoors a Macon synagogue over the summer season.

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Ghada Elnajjar, a Palestinian mom from the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, mentioned she was involved the bill may embolden these searching for to stifle criticism of Israel.

She was significantly anxious about her sons, saying they’ve been posting social media messages criticizing Israel for civilian deaths in Gaza. The sons have additionally worn keffiyehs, the black and white checkered scarfs that symbolize Palestinian solidarity.

The bill “might take a simple thing as wearing a keffiyeh or a social media post and take it a step further and criminalize it and jeopardize my boys’ future,” she mentioned.

State Rep. John Carson, a Marietta Republican who sponsored the bill, advised the House the bill reveals “Georgia stands with our friends in the Jewish community.” Rep. El-Mahdi Holly, a Stockbridge Democrat and one in every of Georgia’s handful of Muslim lawmakers, retorted, “I wish that was true of Palestinians as well.”

Some opponents mentioned Thursday that they did not need to select sides in the Israel-Hamas struggle.

“We can mourn the loss of both Israeli and Palestinian lives,” mentioned Sen. Kim Jackson, a Stone Mountain Democrat. “We can both condemn the unacceptable acts of antisemitism that are plaguing the Jewish community around our state and acknowledge that our citizens have the right to voice their dissent about the tremendous harm being visited upon Palestinian civilians.”

Some Democrats mentioned that if Georgia strikes to outline antisemitism, then it also needs to outline what prejudice towards Muslims, African Americans or LGBTQ+ individuals seems to be like.

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“If we’re going to define antisemitism in the law, then there a lot of other groups that experience racism, and they should also have definitions,” mentioned Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who did not vote on the bill.

But different Democrats mentioned they needed to assist Jewish constituents and allies, with some recalling the historic assist of Jewish individuals in the wrestle for Black civil rights.

“The Jewish community stood hand-in-hand with us,” mentioned Senate Minority Gloria Butler, a Stone Mountain Democrat. “Today I return their favor and stand with them.”