The #EndJewHatred movement stands in solidarity with students at the University of California, Berkeley, who are attempting to pass a Senate Resolution institutionalizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. This definition, along with action to combat Jew-hatred, is very needed in light of the tremendous increase in antisemitism across the United States and on college campuses.
The #EndJewHatred movement makes the following statement about the IHRA definition:
“IHRA calls out Jew-hatred for what it is. It is recognition of the Jewish lived experience. It does not infringe upon free speech. But freedom of speech should not give license to racism, bigotry or Jew-hatred. It is our right, as Jews, to define Jew-hatred. IHRA is our definition. Denying our right is persecution. Denying our right to define our trauma is an act of aggression. Denying our lived experience is an act of oppression.
“We will not be denied. We will not be silenced. We will not be oppressed. We will call out Jew-hatred for what it is, so that we may #EndJewHatred in our lifetime.”
Recently, a number of student groups at UC Berkeley School of Law enacted bylaws to exclude Jewish speakers who believe that Jews have a right to self-determination. In the following weeks, billboards around Berkeley that were designed to address antisemitism were themselves targeted with Jew-hatred. In the face of these disturbing events, some students showed courage to stand up for the Jewish community on campus by adopting the IHRA definition within student government.
Perversely, some groups on and off campus are rallying in opposition to this resolution. They oppose the right of Jews to define antisemitism, just like every other minority and marginalized group is entitled to define and describe the oppression and hatred they face. Opposing the right of Jewish students to institutionalize the IHRA definition is nothing more than Jew-hatred.
For more information and to take action, visit: www.EndJewHatred.com.
