Veto the IHRA Definition Bill to Protect Free Speech and Civil Rights

I’m writing to urge you in the strongest terms to veto any legislation that seeks to codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into Wisconsin law. While I fully support efforts to combat antisemitism, this bill dangerously conflates legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies with hate speech. The IHRA definition—particularly its illustrative examples—has been widely criticized by civil rights organizations, legal scholars, and even its original drafter for enabling censorship and undermining academic freedom. If enacted, this legislation would: • Threaten constitutionally protected speech, especially in educational and advocacy spaces • Silence marginalized voices speaking out against human rights violations • Set a harmful precedent that politicizes the definition of hate and restricts democratic discourse Wisconsin must not become a state where principled dissent is treated as discrimination. I urge you to stand firm in defense of civil liberties and veto this bill should it reach your desk. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to justice.