December 28, 2020
2020 has shown worrisome levels of antisemitism in Illinois, from swastikas spray painted on homes and public property, to Nazi imagery being used to describe the efforts of the state’s Jewish governor, J.B. Pritzker, in combating COVID-19. The continued rise of hate crime incidents targeting Jews in the United States is a threat to society that demands urgent attention.
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Private Briefing for Illinois Elected Officials:
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 12:00 PM CT, AJC is hosting a private briefing for Illinois elected officials on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and how local governments can utilize this tool to combat antisemitic hate and bigotry. To register please click HERE.
The resolution does not change or create any new laws and does not diminish or infringe upon freedom of speech; rather, it provides a non-legally binding definition of antisemitism as an optional, educational tool. The definition and its contemporary examples would be available to train police, to collect and report antisemitic incident data more accurately, to educate prosecutors and judges on what constitutes antisemitism, instruct teachers educators on how contemporary antisemitism can manifest, and continue to serve as a resource for the village government.
Sample Resolution Language:
To increase awareness and support local governments’ efforts, AJC has drafted sample resolution language that specifically works to confront and combat antisemitism by defining the problem. Please click HERE to view.
Additional Resources:
The more knowledgeable all Americans become about antisemitism, the more committed and effective allies they can be in combating it.
Please click HERE to view AJC’s 2020 State of Antisemitism in America report.
Please click HERE to view AJC’s backgrounder on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism: what does it mean, why is it important, and what we should do with it.
To learn more or to schedule a private briefing, please contact AJC Chicago Assistant Director for Advocacy and International Affairs Jason Rosensweig at rosensweigj@ajc.org or 312.646.6127.
