IF IHRA passes NO VOTES For MIKIE SHERRILL!
Statement by member of NJ Arab American Muslim Community * Cherryhillmuslims@gmail.com
Many of our lawmakers and politicians have mainly been silent and complicit for a year and eight months now. Israel has broken several international laws. It’s committing genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, occupation, oppression, military brutality, and several violations with total impunity. The Netanyahu regime continues to attack its neighbors unprovoked and yet we are still sending Israel more weapons using our taxpayer dollars. We haven’t been able to impose a weapons embargo on Israel and cutting all military aid to this genocidal regime should have been a given but unfortunately too many of our politicians have been bought and paid for by AIPAC.
Now NJ legislators are pushing “IHRA” legislation which takes the injustice one step further. If this legislation is passed it would effectively make it against the law to criticize the government of Israel labeling you antisemitic. Any intelligent person can see that this is a clear violation of our first amendment rights. It also dangerously conflates anti Zionism with antisemitism. It is incomprehensible that in America you can criticize your own government but if this bill is passed it would make criticizing a foreign government illegal.
Solidarity with Palestine, support for humanity, an end to genocide and the right to grieve for the losses of the Palestinian community are important to the Muslim community of course but to those of all faith, Judaic, Christian, Hindu, every other religion and belief system who stand with humanity. We must stand united and oppose this attack on not just the Muslim community but on all of us who hear the fundamental cry of the oppressed and rise to give voice to the struggle for justice.
*Mikie Sherrill* now the Democratic Party candidate for governor is on record as supporting this legislation and it is her Democratic Party that is united with Trump and the Republicans trying to impose this repression and in effect end Free Speech Rights in NJ. If this measure passes we need to seriously consider whether it is prudent to vote for the Assembly candidates that voted for it and for Sherrill who leads the party leading the push to implement these laws. Should we be expected to vote for legislators and a governor who pass laws making our very existence and thoughts illegal?
No one should vote for her in November as she supports this and her Democratic Party is pushing this legislation to pass in NJ and that would be especially true if these repressive laws end up being passed before November’s election.
We must stand together and finally say “Enough”. Enough of the silence. Enough of the complicity. Enough of our rights being violated and little by little being taken away. This has to be our redline as a community.
We must stand united. If IHRA passes, *NO VOTES FOR SHERRILL* and *NO VOTES FOR CIATTARELLI* either the Republican candidate who has expressed support for this bill. Our voices matter. There are over 300,000 Muslims in NJ. We have one of the highest populations of Muslims in the United States. It’s time for us to stand up for our basic civil rights and for our principles.
