Defend Hudson Valley's freedom of speech.
We, the citizens and residents of Dutchess and Ulster Counties urge our representatives in local, state, and national governing bodies, commissions, and schools not to confuse criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition does exactly that. It includes eleven examples of antisemitism, seven of which claim that criticism of the state of Israel is antisemitic.
This seriously flawed definition can be used to censor First Amendment free speech rights, and must not be given an influential voice. If adopted already, as New York State and some counties have done , it must be amended or replaced. We cannot allow protestors, teachers, students, workers, and public officials to be exposed to criminal liability, censure, firing, or false accusations of antisemitism simply because they dare criticize the state of Israel.
