In September 2025, a bill was introduced in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature calling for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, definition of antisemitism to be used when determining discriminatory intent under the law. The bill was a response to the rise in antisemitic incidents across the country – despite the fact that current laws ban discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, and national origin. There are, however, several problems with this particular definition of antisemitism, and even the IHRA website calls this a working definition that is not legally binding.
The Wisconsin Conference Palestine Justice Working Group steadfastly opposes antisemitic activity, as well as anti-Arab behavior and any other racially or culturally based actions that harm others.
The bill before the Legislature would require all public agencies at the state and local levels, including state universities and the judiciary, to adopt the IHRA definition, despite widespread criticism.
- Wisconsin Assembly Bill 446 (click on “Bill Text”)
- Wisconsin Senate Bill SB445 (click on “Bill Text”)
The two-sentence IHRA definition of antisemitism is accompanied by examples of antisemitic actions designed guide implementation of the IHRA definition. Some, though not all, pose a direct threat to the First Amendment’s free speech guarantee. It is this trampling of First Amendment rights that makes this bill so dangerous. As the ACLU says: “The right to criticize government actions is the most fundamental protection provided by the First Amendment – and this includes the actions of foreign governments.” The concept of equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism has drawn opposition from more than 40 Jewish groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace, J Street, T’ruah, Americans for Peace Now, Partners for Progressive Israel, and Bend the Arc.
The Palestine Justice Working Group opposes this legislation because of its potential to suppress advocacy for Palestine Justice.
- The bill aims to chill free speech and suppress the opinions of those who wish to use moral, legal means to change the behavior of the State of Israel.
- The bill censors political speech critical of Israel under the guise of addressing antisemitism. It claims, falsely, that criticism of the State of Israel is antisemitic.
- The bill demonizes and even criminalizes individuals who are morally committed to supporting Palestinian human rights through nonviolent speech and action.
- The bill effectively makes criticism of Israel grounds for adding a “hate crime” enhancement to any criminal charge, thus sowing fear among those who want to speak up against a nation with a documented history of human rights violations and war crimes.
Critics of the IHRA definition point out there are other useful definitions of antisemitism that don’t violate free-speech rights. Among these alternate definitions is the Jerusalem Declaration of Antisemitism. In stark contrast with the IHRA definition, the Jerusalem Declaration states that it is not antisemitic to engage in “evidence-based criticism of Israel as a state.”
You can help defeat this bill by:
- Contacting your representatives in the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate representatives by phone, e-mail, or regular mail, asking them to vote against the bill.
- Writing Gov. Tony Evers to ask him to veto the bill should it arrive on his desk.
The bill is Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB446 / Wisconsin Senate Bill SB445. The Assembly and Senate may decide at any time to vote on the bill.
For more information, contact Tom Beilman, a member of the UCC Wisconsin Conference Palestine Justice Working Group.
Read the IHRA definition and examples at International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
Want to read more? This document has more background info on this issue.