TAKE ACTION: TESTIFY AND/OR CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR and/or the COMMISION
Here is the info about testifying. Please note that the deadline to register to testify is April 2. Please also note that this is a hybrid meeting so one can testify on zoom.
Right-wing authoritarianism is escalating here at home, and enabling Israel’s crimes against Palestinians is one of the objectives. We cannot allow antisemitism to be used to justify anti-Palestinian racism.
In this email, we ask you to take three time-sensitive actions:
Action One: Give public comment at the April 7th public hearing of the Massachusetts Commission on Combating Antisemitism (deadline to register is April 2)
Action Two: Submit testimony for the US Senate investigation into antisemitism in higher education
Action Three: Urge your state legislators to defend against escalating assaults on civil liberties
ACTION ONE: Give public comment at the April 7th public hearing of the Massachusetts Commission on Combating Antisemitism
Action 1: Register to Give Public Comment to the Commission April 7th (Deadline April 2)
The sixth meeting of Massachusetts’ Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism is scheduled for April 7th @ 1pm in Newton City Hall and will be livestreamed here. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE COMMISSION IS HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEY NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE! We strongly encourage allies to sign up to give public comment in person (or provide testimony in writing):
In- person testimony: you must register directly with the Commission here (deadline April 2nd @ 5pm) to give public comment. There is a hard 3-minute time limit per speaker. A panel of speakers will be limited to 6 minutes (per panel, not per speaker).
Written testimony: submit to SCCA@malegislature.gov.
Share a copy of your testimony with your state senator and state representative.
TIM is tracking the Commission’s gatekeeping of viewpoints aligned with our coalition. Please help by forwarding your testimony to us at inclusivemassachusetts@proton.me.
Need guidance on what to include in your testimony? TIM drafted this tip sheet including topics the Commission is required to address as well as sample talking points.
The hearing will also feature two presentations**:
Eric Olshan, Former U.S. Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania, lead prosecutor in U.S. v. Robert Bowers (Tree of Life Synagogue Case)
Ariella Hellman, Director of Government Affairs Agudath Israel of America, New England Office. (Agudath Israel published an op-ed in the Boston Globe defending Columbia University’s capitulation to the Trump administration’s demands)
**bookmark the Commission’s hearing page for late additions to the agenda
ACTION TWO: Submit testimony for US Senate investigation into antisemitism in higher education
The federal Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension Committee (HELP) held an inquiry into antisemitism on college campuses on Thursday, March 27th. Sen. Markey’s membership on this committee gives Massachusetts residents an important voice to shape federal policy. Video of the hearing can be found here (Sen. Markey’s comments start at minute 2:01:15).
Please share your experiences of antisemitism and/or its weaponization with Senator Markey to assist his work on the HELP committee. You can request anonymity. The hearing record will be open for 10 business days after the hearing.
Action 2: Share Your Experiences with Sen. Markey
ACTION THREE: Urge your state legislators to defend against escalating assaults on civil liberties
With the Trump administration’s escalation of assaults on civil liberties, including using deportations and threats against universities, it is important to raise our voices to ensure that Massachusetts’ legislators don’t replicate these violations of our rights. Please contact your state legislators asking them to critically review the actions and recommendations of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism in the context of these attacks on civil liberties. This is a sample email drafted from a Jewish perspective that you can customize.
Action 3: Urge your state legislators to defend against escalating assaults on civil liberties
In solidarity,
Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts
https://linktr.ee/TogetherForInclusiveMA
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, Worcester Havurah and many others.