Headed to the Texas House Calendar's Committee, is SB735 by Senator JoseMenendez, “Relating to Holocaust education and training provided to students enrolled at public schools and public institutions of higher education,” costing Texans $1,296,874 through 08/31/27.
Texas Right to Know has concerns the bill propagates what it feels is a one-sided depiction of Jewish history, not calling for educating on other historical events, or other holocausts, related to other groups.
Adopted by 35 States and codified in Texas Government Code Sec. 448.001(2): “Antisemitism means a certainperceptionof Jews that may be expressedas hatredtoward Jews … Examples of antisemitismare included with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's Working Definition of Antisemitism[IHRA]…”
The author of IHRA's definition, Kenneth Stern, said, “using such language in law is problematic.”
According to multiple legal opinions, this definition:
(1) is unlawful since it would be adjudicated based upon “perception” not an action,(2) violates the First Amendment by infringing on the right to express an idea, even when the idea is hatred, as established in the 10/28/2024, US Western District Court'sruling on Governor Abbott's GA-44 Executive Order. The court ruled, “that thegovernment may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”, (3) violatesthe 14th Amendment by establishing a protected class of citizens based on race, religion, and nationality, violating the Equal Protection Clause, (4) includes 11 working definitions of antisemitism, with example #9. “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus …).”
“None of the authors of thenine antisemitism bills, including SB326 author, Senator Phil King, were aware that these 11 working definitions of antisemitismwere part of state law since they were not listed, but rather you have to go to a foreign website to see the list.I am deeply concerned and disappointed when these obvious violations to our US Constitution were directly discussed with Texas Senators and Representatives themselves and their offices that none have risen to the defense of our US and Texas Constitutions' freedom of speech rights,” said Sheila Hemphill, CEO Texas Right To Know.
“Currently the antisemitism penalties are restricted to students, but I predict that we have only two years before the next session to mount a defense of our freedom of speech rights before the 11 examples of antisemitism will be proposed in laws to prosecute all Texans with examples that are included by not limited to, 'Claims of Jews killing Jesus.' When Governor Abbott writes, “Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies,” that's pretty intimidating but we must all be brave enough to stand for Truth,” warns Hemphill.
About Texas Right to Know: Texas Right to Know (TRTK) is an informational service regarding local and state issues. For more information, visitwww.TexasRightToKnow.com.
Media Contact:Sheila Hemphill, CEO / info@TexasRightToKnow.com
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SOURCE Texas Right to Know
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