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How a controversial definition of antisemitism is making its way into state laws — from banning masks to training cops

JL;DR SUMMARY The adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism is causing significant shifts in state laws across the U.S., affecting educational institutions, protestors, and curriculum content. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

ZionismLegislationProtestsFree SpeechJewish OrganizationsUniversitiesIhra DefinitionCurriculum

Places mentioned

Kansas, United States
"A new law in Kansas makes it a special offense to wear a mask while protesting Israel."
Florida, United States
"In Florida, after legislation was passed targeting antisemitism, the state university system asked administrators to review any course material mentioning Israeli, Palestinian, and Zionist, among other terms."
Oklahoma, United States
"And in Oklahoma, the public school system was required to appoint a special coordinator to investigate claims of antisemitic discrimination."
Virginia, United States
"as Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee all passed bills or issued executive orders reiterating their support for it."
Arkansas, United States
"as Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee all passed bills or issued executive orders reiterating their support for it."
Kentucky, United States
"as Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee all passed bills or issued executive orders reiterating their support for it."
Missouri, United States
"as Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee all passed bills or issued executive orders reiterating their support for it."
Nebraska, United States
"as Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee all passed bills or issued executive orders reiterating their support for it."
Tennessee, United States
"as Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee all passed bills or issued executive orders reiterating their support for it."
New York, United States
"Similar bills are being debated in the New York state legislature and in the New Jersey governors race."
New Jersey, United States
"Similar bills are being debated in the New York state legislature and in the New Jersey governors race."
Iowa, United States
"In 2022, Iowa simultaneously adopted bills codifying the IHRA definition of antisemitism and restricting state business with companies that boycott Israel."
Arizona, United States
"In Arizona, a 2022 law requires the state to use the IHRA definition in the reporting and sentencing of hate crimes."
Texas, United States
"In Texas, the states 2021 adoption of IHRA gained force in 2024 when Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) signed an executive order mandating that all public universities revise their anti-discrimination policies to incorporate the IHRA definition."
Massachusetts, United States
"In 2019, lawyers for students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst cited the IHRA definition in filing a lawsuit seeking to cancel a discussion panel on campus titled Not Backing Down: Israel, Free Speech, and the Battle for Palestinian Human Rights."
Washington, D.C., Washington DC, United States
"Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, she is a 2023 graduate of Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism."
New York, United States
"Similar bills are being debated in the New York state legislature and in the New Jersey governors race."
Burlington, Vermont, United States
"Hannah Feuer joined the Forward as a general assignment reporter in May 2025 after two years as a culture reporter at Seven Days, an independent weekly in Burlington, Vermont."
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
"In 2019, lawyers for students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst cited the IHRA definition in filing a lawsuit seeking to cancel a discussion panel on campus titled Not Backing Down: Israel, Free Speech, and the Battle for Palestinian Human Rights."
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
"Student demonstrators lock arms to guard potential authorities against reaching fellow pro-Palestinian protesters who barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University."
Northwestern, Illinois, United States
"Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, she is a 2023 graduate of Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism."

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Cairo Item ID 52652
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Retrieved 2025-05-29 05:30:54 UTC
Curated 2025-05-29 08:30:44 UTC