BREAKING: Steven Fulop Would Not Sign NJ’s Proposed IHRA Bills!
Editor’s Note: Green Party Assembly candidate for LD 7 Lisa Ryan was the first person to get any of the Democratic Party Gubernatorial candidates to speak out in opposition to IHRA bills in NJ legislature that would define criticism of Israel as “antisemitism” with legal consequences for Palestine advocates and entities receiving NJ funds. At a “Meet & Greet” in Cherry Hill NJ on February 12., 2025, she asked Gubernatorial candidate Steven Fulop where he stands on the issue. To his credit, Steven Fulop has announced that he would NOT sign the bills proposed in NJ legislature and he explained his valid reasons accordingly. This information needs to be amplified to all NJ legislators, and to the other candidates for NJ Governor and NJ Assembly. Lets build unity toward the defeat of these attempts to eliminate our beloved free speech rights in NJ!
Hat;s off to LD-7 Green Party candidate for NJ Assembly Lisa Ryan for this breakthrough interview with Steven Fulop on this issue!
The following is a rough transcription of the conversation. The Youtube auto transcription did not work with this video.
Lisa Ryan: What is your stance on the IHRA bill, the one where they are trying to redefine “antisemitism” to include criticism of Israel. Do you understand it would take away our free speech including anyone with criticism of Israel, who disagrees with Israel. Why is it that we, including you, are allowed to criticize our own government. Why can we not criticize Israel?
Steven Fulop: Like I said on a call 2 days ago with the American Jewish Committee. I was very clear. Should I be governor I would not sign that bill. And I told them why I am not a supporter. There are a lot of bills . . . laws in Trenton that cover hate crimes across the board including antisemitism. I agree with you on the fact a different definition for the Jewish community is not necessarily helpful as it relates to antisemitism. You don’t have the same standards as it relates to the ___ community, the Islamic community. I think we are doing a disservice to the Jewish community. I say this as someone who grew up in a Jewish household. I think we are doing something that is counterproductive – not thinking about the big picture and how people will perceive that. I do agree with you. It’s important that people have the ability to criticize whether it’s Ukraine or Russia or Israel or the United States without having it legislated as a penalty or a crime. I do think that the hate crimes that exist today – the laws around that govern it are important. I am not a supporter of that definition of the IHRA Bill and I am very clear about that.
Lisa Ryan: So you don’t plan on signing it at all or anything like that.
Steven Fulop: Like I am saying that whether I am in this room with less of a Jewish population or in a room filled with Jewish people. I tell it to you as someone who went to a Yeshiva growing up. I am clear with everyone where I stand on the issue and why and NO I would not sign it.
Lisa Ryan: Why haven’t you been able to put out a statement about that yet.
Steven Fulop: Like I said we had a big call the other day.
Lisa Ryan: Yes that is not a call to the public. I tried to look for your . . .
Steven Fulop: People come to these things they ask and I try my best to outline my policies as clear and don’t shy away. Press calls and ask I tell them what it is. There are a million things on my website and I try to drill down in more detail on policies – there is no question about that. As thorough as we are people say “you didn’t cover this” . . . I understand. We have these sorts of conversations too and solutions – I don’t shy away from it. I don’t think there is any ambiguity in what I said how I would stand on it.
Lisa Ryan: I would think that for something that big, when you have such a large Muslim population in the state of NJ you would have had a stance on that.
Steven Fulop: I don’t view it as a conversation around the Muslim community. I view it as a conversation arond the Jewish community and every other community as I outlined. I happen to be the mayor of the single most diverse city in the country. We have a very large Muslim community and a very large Jewish community and both of them would tell you that I treat them fairly and they are big supporters of mine. That has been my track record. I don’t need to put something on the website in order to furbish credentials to one or the other. If you have a question call the Pakistani community in Jersey City, ask them what they think of me. They were my first supporters. I would not be the mayor if they were not with me. Ask the Muslim community what they say.
Lisa Ryan: I was just why there wasn’t a statement being such a big thing.
Steven Fulop: There’s a lot of big things. Transportation’s a big thing. Affordability’s a big thing. The trans community’s a big thing.
Lisa Ryan: I understand that but this is going to change the lives of not just the Muslim community but the lives of the activists that are out there.
Steven Fulop: I don’t think I could have been more clear in letting you know where I stand on that.
Lisa Ryan: OK.
