Urge Indiana State Representatives to Support the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and HB 1002
January 8, 2024
Background: In the months following the October 7 attacks, there has been an alarming surge in antisemitism, with the ADL reporting an increase of over 300%. This spike in hostility is particularly evident in educational institutions, with students on college campuses and in K-12 classrooms facing hostile environments. Combating antisemitism is a non-partisan imperative, and defining antisemitism is fundamental to this endeavor.
The JCRC strongly urges 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. Nearly 50 Jewish organizations and institutions in Indiana, in addition to 36 states and over 1,000 institutions worldwide, have endorsed this definition. HB 1002 will add the definition to the education code rather than the criminal code and provide a useful tool for educators and administrators to identify and combat antisemitism.
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Email and call members of House leadership and the House Education Committee and urge them to pass this legislation. (Contact information and sample language are below.)
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Make your voice heard! The importance of calling and emailing your electeds cannot be overstated.
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 combatting antisemitism. Thirty-six 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. 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]
Speaker of the House
Rep. Todd Huston (R)
Phone: 317-232-9677
Email: h37@iga.in.gov
House Education Committee
Rep. Bob Behning (R-Chair)
Phone: 317-232-9753
Email: h91@iga.in.gov
Rep. Michele Davis (R-Vice-Chair)
Phone: 317-232-9769
Email: h58@iga.in.gov
Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R)
Phone: 317-232-0404
Email: h81@iga.in.gov
Rep. Becky Cash (R)
Phone: 317-232-9643
Email: h25@iga.in.gov
Rep. Edward DeLaney (D)
Phone: 317-234-9047
Email: h86@iga.in.gov
Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R)
Phone: 317-234-0931
Email: h29@iga.in.gov
Rep. Jack Jordan (R)
Phone: 317-232-9651
Email: h17@iga.in.gov
Rep. Sheila Ann Klinker (D)
Phone: 317-232-9875
Email: h27@iga.in.gov
Rep. Julie McGuire (R)
Phone: 317-232-9802
Email: h93@iga.in.gov
Rep. Zach Payne (R)
Phone: 317-232-0404
Email: h66@iga.in.gov
Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D)
Phone: 317-233-5248
Email: h43@iga.in.gov
Rep. Vernon Smith (D)
Phone: 317-232-9987
Email: h14@iga.in.gov
Rep. Jake Teshka (R)
Phone: 317-234-9450
Email: h7@iga.in.gov
