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Hundreds testify against bill to adopt IHRA definition into Ohio law, citing First Amendment risks
Summary
More than two dozen public witnesses, Jewish and non‑Jewish, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Senate Bill 87’s adoption of an IHRA‑style working definition of antisemitism — and its linkage to ethnic intimidation and riot provisions — would chill political speech about Israel and risk unconstitutional enforcement.
Senate Bill 87 drew the longest portion of the hearing, with dozens of opponent witnesses — including Jewish community members, civil liberties groups, campus affiliates, veterans, faith leaders and Palestinian‑American speakers — urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the bill.
The bill would, proponents say, adopt a definition of antisemitism similar to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition and link it to Ohio’s anti‑discrimination and ethnic intimidation statutes. Opponents told the committee that embedding…
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