Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed legislation on reinforcing her state’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, the Combat Antisemitism Movement reported.
By Rachel Avraham
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed legislation on reinforcing her state’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, the Combat Antisemitism Movement reported. According to the report, The bill — SB 44 — had received bipartisan backing in the Kansas State Legislature, and was approved last month by 39-1 and 102-21 margins in the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.
According to SB 44, “It is hereby declared that antisemitism and antisemitic acts are against the public policy of this state, including, but not limited to, the purposes of public educational institutions and law enforcement agencies in this state. The state of Kansas hereby adopts a non-legally binding definition of antisemitism and antisemitic. “Antisemitism” or “antisemitic” means the same as defined by the international Holocaust remembrance alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, including the contemporary examples, as in effect on May 26, 2016.”
Under the Kansas law, the words “antisemitism” or “antisemitic” include:
— Encouraging, supporting, praising, participating in or threatening violence or vandalism against Jewish people or property.
— Wearing masks to conceal a person’s identity with the intent to harass or discriminate against Jewish students, faculty or employees on school property.
— Incorporating or allowing funding of antisemitic curriculum or activities in any domestic or study abroad programs or classes.
Kansas House Committee on Education Chair Susan Estes said during the House debate on the bill, “We would like to send a message that we welcome students of all religions to our campuses. This is very important because of what we are seeing on our campuses and we need to take this action immediately.”
The bill was supported by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), and CAM Founder Adam Beren and Director of State Engagement David Soffer testified on behalf of an earlier version before the Kansas House Committee on Education on Feb. 11.
In his remarks, Beren said the legislation would “demonstrate that Kansas legislators are taking a proactive measure” to fight antisemitism.
Soffer stated, “The Jewish community seeks the same thing every other minority and historically discriminated group seek — the ability to live in peace while being able to practice our religion and culture.”
According to the report, the legislation marks the first codification of the IHRA definition in Kansas state statute. The Combat Antisemitism Movement reported similar legislative initiatives have also been put forth in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee in recent months.
Photo from Chris Mullins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Kelly#/media/File:Laura_Kelly_official_photo.jpg
