Urge Wisconsin to Adopt the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

Please fill out the form below to urge your state legislators to support AB446, a bill that would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism as a guiding framework for evaluating potentially antisemitic incidents in schools, public institutions, and state agencies. With antisemitic incidents soaring 459% in Wisconsin since 2015, we must ensure that our state government has the tools it needs to recognize and respond to this ancient and evolving hatred.

Critics claim that the IHRA definition limits criticism of Israeli policies and conflates debate with antisemitism. This is simply false. In fact, the IHRA Definition protects free speech by helping distinguish between legitimate political discourse, including criticism of Israeli policies, and hate-motivated conduct. It does not punish speech, even antisemitic speech.

The IHRA Definition is the most widely used and accepted tool for helping decision-makers identify antisemitism – already, the definition has been adopted by 37 other states, nearly 100 local governments, 45 countries (including the United States), the United Nations, and hundreds of NGO’s, educational institutions, and corporations have adopted the IHRA definition. More than 160 Jewish communities and organizations have endorsed IHRA.

The IHRA definition is about clarity, not censorship. It is about protection, not politics.

We urge you to contact your Wisconsin State Senator and Assemblymember TODAY and express your support for AB446.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I am writing to urge you to support and vote in favor of AB446, which would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, a widely accepted tool to enable local and state decision-makers to identify and respond to antisemitic incidents.

Since 2015, Wisconsin has seen a 459% increase in reported antisemitic incidents. As antisemitism grows both globally and locally, on college campuses, online, and in public discourse, our communities urgently need a clear and consistent framework to recognize what is and is not antisemitism.

The IHRA definition is already used by the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, 37 U.S. states, and dozens of democratic governments worldwide. It is supported by leading Jewish and civil society organizations, and has been publicly defended by global experts, including Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

Let me be clear:

- AB446 does not restrict free speech; in fact, the IHRA Definition protects free speech by helping distinguish between legitimate political discourse, including criticism of Israeli policies, and hate-motivated conduct.

- AB446 does not criminalize criticism of Israel or Jewish people.

- AB446 does not impose penalties or create new laws; rather it simply offers guidance for applying existing anti-discrimination frameworks.

The IHRA Definition outlines several common manifestations of actions that could be defined as antisemitism and includes context as a critical factor. This includes the targeting of Jewish individuals, institutions, or property; denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination; claiming the existence of a Jewish conspiracy; and questioning that the Holocaust occurred among others.

The IHRA definition is about clarity, not censorship. It is about protection, not politics.

Now is the time to stand against hate. I urge you to support AB446 and help Wisconsin lead in the fight against antisemitism.

Sincerely,
______

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Address

Zip