Jewish, Muslim, Free Speech Advocacy Groups Speak Out at NJ Assembly Speaker Coughlin’s Office vs.Anti-Free Speech Legislation Bill Would Classify Advocacy for Palestinian Human Rights as Antisemitism Tue, July 22, 10:00 AM, Woodbridge
| For Immediate Release7/21/2025Onsite Contact: Aly Azhar (609) 240-8852 Offsite Contact: Adam Weissman (201) 470-3312 |
| MEDIA ADVISORY / PHOTO OPPORTUNITY Jewish, Muslim, Free Speech Advocacy Groups Speak Out at NJ Assembly Speaker Coughlin’s Office vs.Anti-Free Speech Legislation Bill Would Classify Advocacy for Palestinian Human Rights as Antisemitism |
| WHAT: Members of Jewish, Muslim, immigrant rights, and civil liberties groups will gather for a press conference at the district office of NJ State Assembly Speaker Coughlin to express opposition to Bill A3558, which is for a hearing and possible vote on Thursday in a special summer session of the Assembly State and Local Government Committee. This bill would make the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism the legal definition of antisemitism in NJ. The IHRA definition has been widely condemned by Holocaust scholars, human rights advocates, and civil rights advocates for classifying criticisms of the State of Israel as antisemitic. Advocates argue that legislators should prioritize passage of the Immigrant Trust Act to protect immigrants under threat from ICE rather than passing legislation they argue threatens the free speech of New Jerseyans. WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 10:00 AM WHERE: Office of Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, 569 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095 WHO: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 Palestine Emgage Action IfNotNow Central NJ Islamic 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 Palestine Neturei Karta International – Jews United Against Zionism New Jersey Muslim Civic Coalition (NJ MCC) NJ Anti-Zionist Minyan PAL-Awda NY/NJ Palestinian American Community Center (PACC) Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) Wind of Spirit (WoS) QUOTES: “This bill is being pushed by anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim extremists who want to change the definition of antisemitism from hatred of Jews to opposition to the genocide of the Palestinian people. Its purpose is to silence human rights advocates. It has nothing to do with combatting real antisemitism.” – Rabbi Yitzchok Deutsch “We need real safety, not censorship. The IHRA bill would silence the very people fighting for justice.” – Hafsa Habehh, Organizer, American Muslims for Palestine NJ “We’re tired of political theater. Coughlin is posturing while immigrant families are suffering. If he truly cares about protecting communities, he’ll drop IHRA and pass the Immigrant Trust Act now.” – Asma Elhuni of Resistencia En Accion NJ “Committee after committee has refused to vote on this bill, recognizing that it threatens our civil liberties. Yet this unpopular bill keeps being resuscitated to appease politically powerful opponents of free speech.”– Ali Aljarrah, State Lead for CAIR Action NJ BACKGROUND:The IHRA definition has been criticized by the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and hundreds of academics and Jewish organizations for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.The Immigrant Trust Act would codify and expand protections against state and local ICE collaboration, ensuring immigrant families aren’t targeted by racial profiling or fear-based policing.Speaker Coughlin has refused to advance the ITA while fast-tracking IHRA, sparking outrage from immigrant and justice communities statewide.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) 303-7300aaljarrah@cairaction.org CAIR Action Communicationsmedia@cairaction.org |
