Oklahoma Stands Against Antisemitism

Oklahoma Stands Against Antisemitism

(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – The Oklahoma House gallery broke out in a standing ovation when SB 991 , which codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism , passed on April 30 with a 62-24 vote. SB 991 had passed the Senate in March with a 27-15 vote. The bill ensures that Oklahoma will utilize the IHRA definition as an educational tool for identifying unlawful acts of antisemitism, including hate crimes and discrimination. SB 991 now awaits the signature of Governor Kevin Stitt.

Josh Arbital with StandWithUs Emerson Fellows Allison P. and Elizabeth A.


StandWithUs thanks Governor Stitt, Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert, and leading bill sponsors (Representatives Kenneth West, Tammy West, Suzanne Schreiber, Emily Gise, Daniel Pae, Mike Osburn, Brian Hill, Ellyn Hefner as well as Senators Kristen Thompson, Julie Daniels, Christi Gillespie, and Avery Frix) for helping move this hallmark bipartisan legislation to fruition.
StandWithUs also thanks its partners in the IAC for Action, the Israeli American Council, the National Jewish Advocacy Center, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, ADL Texoma, Jewish Federations of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Hillels, and the many other organizations who helped rally Oklahoma in support of SB 991. Oklahoma now joins a growing portfolio of over 30 states to have adopted  the IHRA definition.
Jordan Cope, StandWithUs’ Director of Policy Education, who met with congressional members and Governor Stett to advocate on behalf of Oklahoma’s IHRA adoption, observed, “With antisemitism having exploded worldwide post- October 7 , the IHRA definition remains a tool of paramount importance for helping identify and quell the mounting tide of antisemitism. Oklahoma’s moral clarity on this matter sets a clear example from which other states ought to draw inspiration as Jews around the world desperately seek assurances of their own safety.”

Jordan Cope (right) with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (middle)
Jordan Cope (right) with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (middle)


Josh Arbital, Senior Campus Regional Manager StandWithUs Central, joined StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, Allison P., together with representatives from the Jewish Federations of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, ADL Texoma, Oklahoma Hillels on April 15 at the Oklahoma State Capitol and 40 college students to educate lawmakers about IHRA.
SB 991 clarifies confusion about what antisemitism is, by adopting a definition that was drafted by leading world experts to express the needs of antisemitism victims. The IHRA definition has been adopted  or endorsed by over 1,200 governments, institutions, and organizations, including  the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Departments of Education and State, governments of roughly 40 countries, etc. The IHRA definition has been supported by both Republican and Democrat presidential administrations.
There has been confusion—sometimes intentional—about what adopting the IHRA definition means. Neither SB 991 nor the IHRA definition creates a special non-discrimination class for Jewish people. The IHRA definition is simply a guiding tool for identifying antisemitism that may assist in the application of already-existing laws where antisemitism may be involved.
Importantly, adopting the IHRA definition does not infringe upon First Amendment (free speech) rights. People still have their own free speech rights and responsibilities to condemn incidents of hatred and bigotry, and even use them as teachable moments. Referencing the IHRA definition to confront antisemitism does not violate anyone’s constitutional rights—no one has a right to be free from criticism after promoting hate.
ABOUT STANDWITHUS
StandWithUs (SWU) is a 23-year-old international non-partisan education organization that inspires people of all ages about Israel, challenges misinformation and fights against antisemitism. 
StandWithUs empowers people around the world to educate others   through social media, print and digital materials in different languages, through educational programs and conferences, weekly newsletters, data and analytics, and missions to Israel. 
It takes legal action through the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department. It empowers hundreds of student leaders annually through its college Fellowship and high school Internship. SWU provides schools and educators with vital tools through its IsraelLINK middle school program, Holocaust Education Center, and K-12 Fairness Center.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has chapters throughout the U.S., Israel, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa.  
For the last fourteen years, StandWithUs has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two charity watchdog groups that assess over a million charities in the United States. This puts StandWithUs in the top 3% of charities ranked for their transparency and accountability.  
www.standwithus.com  and https://www.facebook.com/standwithus  and https://www.twitter.com/standwithus  and https://www.instagram.com/standwithus

StandWithUs is an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. StandWithUs empowers and energizes students and communities with leadership training and educational programs on hundreds of college campuses, high schools, and middle schools. StandWithUs informs through social media, print and digital materials, films, weekly newsletters, and missions to Israel. StandWithUs takes legal action through the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and offices throughout the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. More at www.standwithus.com. 

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