Jewish, Muslim, Civil Rights Orgs Hold News Conference and Rally at State House in Opposition to Anti-Free Speech Bill, Urge Lawmakers to Pass Immigrant Trust Act, 7/24, 10 am, Trenton NJ
| WHAT: A coalition of civil and human rights organizations will hold a news conference and rally at the New Jersey State House and testify in opposition to Assembly Bill A3558, which is scheduled for a hearing and vote in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on Thursday. A3558 would codify the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law. Advocates will urge legislators to drop the IHRA bill and instead to prioritize passage of the Immigrant Trust Act. Rally participants will wear gags reading “No IHRA” to express their view that A3558 will crack down on the free speech of critics of Israel. WHEN: Thursday, July 24. News conference and rally to begin at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Committee hearing to begin 11:00 a.m. EDT. WHERE: The news conference and rally will be held in front of the State House. The hearing will take place in the State House Annex at 31-137 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608. Committee Room 16, Floor 4. WHO: Members of New Jersey-based civil rights, Muslim, Jewish, and Palestinian advocacy groups including:American Civil Liberities Union New Jersey (ACLU NJ) American Muslims for Palestine – NJ (AMP NJ)Black Lives Matter-Paterson (BLM Paterson) Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN) Council on American Islamic Relations Action NJ (CAIR Action NJ)Council on American Islamic Relations NJ (CAIR-NJ)Educators for PalestineEmgage ActionFaith in New JewishIfNotNow Central NJIslamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC)Jewish Voice for Peace Central NJ (JVP CNJ)Jewish Voice for Peace Northern NJ (JVP NNJ)Jews for Palestinian Right of Return (JPRR)Labor for PalestineNeturei Karta International – Jews United Against ZionismNew Jersey Muslim Civic Coalition (NJ MCC)NJ Anti-Zionist MinyanPAL-Awda NY/NJPalestinian American Community Center (PACC)Peoples Organization for Progress (POP)Resistencia En Accion NJWind of Spirit (WoS)WHY: The IHRA definition has been criticized by the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and hundreds of academics and Jewish organizations. Civil libertarians argue that IHRA conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism and that codifying it into law threatens the free speech of advocating for Palestinian human rights and the religious liberty of Jews who express the view that Israel is a racist state that exists in violation of religious law. Assembly Speaker Coughlin has refused to advance the ITA while fast-tracking IHRA, sparking outrage from immigrant communities and allies statewide. The Immigrant Trust Act would codify and expand protections against local ICE collaboration, ensuring immigrant families aren’t targeted by racial profiling or fear-based policing. “The IHRA bill defines speaking out against the State of Israel’s colonialism and structural racism as antisemitism instead of focusing on the real threats to Jews right now from white supremacists. We have the right to critique any country, including the US and Israel,” added Gabi Rubinstein of Jewish human rights organizations NJ Anti-Zionist Minyan and IfNotNow. |
| CAIR Action NJ is an affiliate of CAIR Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. Our mission is to engage, educate, and mobilize Muslim voters, train emerging leaders, and champion policy priorities that enhance the well-being and representation of Muslim communities. END CONTACT: Ali AljarrahSenior Advisor. CAIR Action NJ(973) 303-7300 aaljarrah@cairaction.org CAIR Action Communicationsmedia@cairaction.org |
