The fourth meeting of Massachusetts’ Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism is scheduled for February 10th @ 1pm (State House and live streamed). Members of Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM) will formally share our vision and recommendations with the Commission on addressing antisemitism within an antiracist and liberation framework. You can attend in person or view the proceedings on live stream. Please let us know how you will be joining so we can track our allies’ participation. RSVP for details.
In this email:
Together for an Inclusive MA to testify at the Feb 10th Commission meeting
Your State Legislators need to hear from you
The Antisemitism Commission needs to hear from you
RSVP to attend the Feb 10th Commission meeting!
Together for an Inclusive MA to testify at the Feb 10th the Commission meeting
We appreciate Commission co-chairs, Rep. Cataldo (Concord) and Sen. Velis (Westfield) for giving our alliance the opportunity to present our vision for addressing antisemitism in K-12 schools. We believe that addressing antisemitism is essential, and must be done with care, reflecting the diversity of all Jewish people in the Commonwealth and within a framework that embraces equity and inclusion for all. We seek to ensure that the Commonwealth’s actions are inclusive, transparent, and constructive.
Panelists representing Together for an Inclusive MA will focus their testimony on:
The diversity of Jewish perspectives about Zionism, with many identifying as anti-Zionist (20%) and non-Zionist (69%).
Our knowledge of the prevalence and nature of antisemitism in Massachusetts is limited, as demonstrated by the findings of researchers at Jewish Currents, The Forward, and by Wikipedia, among others, who have concluded that the ADL is not a reliable source.
Bigotry and discrimination against one group cannot be addressed by normalizing bigotry and discrimination against another group. We reject the labeling of Palestinians who talk about their own life experiences as racist against Jews or suggestions that Jews are harmed by Palestinian humanity or that Jewish safety depends on silencing and erasing criticism of Israel.
Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts unequivocally opposes the adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which is used to justify suppression of political speech and to censor fact-based education. This definition gives the state of Israel civil rights that are reserved for people and offers protection from criticism that no other state, including the US, enjoys.
Educational institutions are fundamental to a healthy democracy, and our schools should be allowed to equip students with critical thinking and analytical skills to be able to engage with current and historical events and to develop their own well-researched opinions. Educators need to be able to present a diversity of factual resources as well as the skills to guide students in discussing difficult topics. The Commission must resist campaigns to censor and erase Palestine and Palestinians from Massachusetts’ curriculum.
We believe that an antiracist approach to antisemitism uplifts all communities and does not harm one group for the supposed benefit of another. There are several sources for understanding antisemitism through an intersectional and/or liberatory framework which we shared in our written testimony.
The Commission must uphold Constitutional protections, of both free speech, and religious freedom.
Read Together for an Inclusive MA’s formal testimony here
Your State Legislators need to hear from you!
The Commission’s meetings and final report will influence legislators’ decisions on addressing antisemitism in schools, the work place, and in law enforcement. Now is the time to educate your State Representative and State Senator about the harms of conflating criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism and your vision for addressing antisemitism through an antiracist framework.
Send a quick email to your legislator:
Find your State Rep and State Senator here.
Send a short email with these sample talking points:
The Antisemitism Commission is tasked with a very important mandate. I am following the Commission’s proceedings carefully and wanted to reach out to share my hopes and concerns about its work.
The Commission does not represent the full diversity of views within the Jewish community about how best to combat antisemitism. This diversity must be reflected in its proceedings and final recommendations.
Stifling discussion, education, and silencing different opinions regarding Israel and Palestine will not tackle the real problem of antisemitism.
State legislation and policies must protect students’ right to learn and educators’ freedom to teach, including critical examinations of the history or actions of the U.S. and other nations.
There are multiple resources to understand and dismantle antisemitism within an antiracist framework. I oppose the adoption of any definition of antisemitism that is used to justify suppression of political speech and to censor balanced, fact-based education regarding Israel and Palestine.
Include your full name and home address, so they know you are a constituent.
Email your State Rep and State Senator
The Antisemitism Commission also needs to hear from you
The Commission is planning to have a public comment period at an upcoming meeting (date TBD). Members of the public are encouraged to reach out to the Commission at scca@malegislature.gov with feedback, experiences, requests to speak, and ideas for future topics.
Upcoming topics addressed by the Commission will include:
Implementation of the White House Strategy on Antisemitism
Higher education
Law enforcement and hate crimes and reporting
Best practices in the workplace at municipal, healthcare and arts fields.
Other topics suggested by members of the public
Please email SCCA@malegislature.gov directly and make sure to request your testimony be shared with all Commission members.
Let us know you'll join us February 10th
In solidarity,
Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts
Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts is a group of Jewish, Muslim, labor, education, civil rights and other organizations and individuals advocating for justice and equity in the Commonwealth. Our alliance includes representatives from Boston Workers Circle, Mass Peace Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Boston, If Not Now Boston, National Lawyers Guild - MA, Council on American-Islamic Relations - MA, Sawa: Newton-Area Alliance for Peace and Justice, the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Arlington for Palestine and many others.
More information Challenge Anti-Palestinian Racism at Commission Hearing – Massachusetts Peace Action