A diverse coalition of Ohioans from across the state, including a caravan from Cleveland, is headed to Columbus today to testify against Senate Bill 297 (SB 297), a controversial piece of legislation being rushed through during the lame-duck session. The bill, endorsed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, seeks to encode the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law, attaching this definition to heightened criminal penalties.
Opponents argue that while the bill is framed as a measure to combat antisemitism, it is, in fact, a thinly veiled attempt to stifle criticism of the Israeli government and suppress advocacy for Palestinian rights and attention away from the genocide in Gaza. The urgency of the situation has prompted grassroots organizations, student activists, civil rights groups, and faith-based organizations to mobilize in defense of free speech and the right to protest.
Executive Director of CAIR-Cleveland & North, Faten Husni Odeh stated, "While we support efforts to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and other forms of hate, this bill as drafted wrongly conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli government, its actions and its founding ideology with antisemitism. Conflating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism undermines fundamental constitutional rights, threatens protected political expression and risks discriminatory enforcement.
The use of the controversial and widely disputes IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which was drafted by a Jewish expert in antisemitism who opposes its use by governments, risks infringing on First Amendment rights by potentially labeling protected political expression—such as advocacy for Palestinian rights or criticism of Israeli policies—as antisemitic. This lack of clear, objective criteria invites inconsistent enforcement and subjective interpretations, which could suppress legitimate activism and disproportionately harm those who advocate for Palestinian human rights.
Furthermore, this narrow focus on silencing criticism of the Israeli government under the guise of fighting antisemitism neglects the broader need to combat all forms of hate and discrimination, including real antisemitism and rising Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism. Rather than adopting a contentious and ambiguous definition, we urge legislators to consider strengthening existing hate crime laws, expanding public education initiatives, and fostering dialogue to address antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and other forms of bigotry holistically and equitably."
"SB 297 twists Ohio's antidiscrimination laws to arguably prevent all criticism of Israel policies & actions, foreign & domestic." - ACLU Ohio
The repressive intent of the bill became apparent when a press release promoting SB 297 falsely linked Palestine advocacy to neo-Nazi marches that recently occurred in Columbus. Such rhetoric has been condemned by activists as both irresponsible and dangerous.
Hearings on SB 297 are scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM today, with a potential vote occurring as soon as later this afternoon. Advocates from across Ohio plan to pack the hearing room to demand that state representatives reject this dangerous bill.
Ohioans are being urged to contact their state representatives immediately to voice opposition to SB 297. The stakes are high, and it is critical for the legislature to hear from their constituents today and throughout the duration of the hearings.
