(Concord, New Hampshire – August 06, 2024) – On August 05, 2024, Governor Chris Sununu signed into law SB 508 , which codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. In May, New Hampshire passed Senate Bill 508 , which ensures that the State will consider the IHRA definition when reviewing unfair or discriminatory practices suspected of antisemitism. The bill follows an executive order by Gov. Chris Sununu issued last year, which generally prevents New Hampshire’s Executive Branch from investing or contracting with companies engaged in boycotts against Israel.
StandWithUs thanks Governor Sununu and leading sponsors, Rep. James Spillane, Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, Rep. Terry Roy, Senator Jeb Bradley, Senator Sharon Carson, and former Rep. Paul Berch, for helping move this hallmark bipartisan legislation to fruition. StandWithUs also thanks its partners, IAC for Action and the the National Jewish Advocacy Center. New Hampshire now joins a growing portfolio of over 30 states to have adopted the IHRA definition.
Jordan Cope, StandWithUs Director of Policy Education, 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 as Jews around the world desperately seek assurances for their own safety. New Hampshire’s moral clarity on this matter sets a clear example for New England from which other states ought to draw inspiration.”
There has been confusion—sometimes intentional—about what adopting the IHRA definition means. Neither SB 508 nor the IHRA definition creates a special non-discrimination class for Jewish people. The IHRA definition is simply a guiding tool for identifying antisemitism in the application of already-existing laws where antisemitism may be involved.
According to recent research, a third of Americans are either unsure of what antisemitism means or has never heard the term. To even begin to address the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what it is. SB 508 clarifies confusion about what antisemitism is by adopting a definition that was drafted by leading world experts to reflect the lived experience of Jewish people. The IHRA definition is the global consensus having been adopted or endorsed by over 1,100 governments, institutions, and organizations, including the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Departments of Education and State, and governments of about 40 countries. The IHRA definition has been supported by both Republican and Democrat presidential administrations.
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 an international, nonprofit, and non-partisan Israel education organization that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism.
Through university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films, and missions to Israel, StandWithUs supports people around the world who want to educate their schools and communities about Israel.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and programs throughout the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Australia.
For the last eleven years, StandWithUs has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two charity watchdog groups that assess hundreds of thousands of charities in the United States.
www.standwithus.com and www.facebook.com/standwithus and www.twitter.com/standwithus and www.instagram.com/standwithus.com
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.
