Arkansas Gov Sarah Huckabee Sanders Signs Law Adopting IHRA

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, signed a bill into law adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

According to a press release, Arkansas has now become the 28th state to adopt IHRA, which states that the demonization and delegitmization of Israel, as well as double-standards are antisemitic.

“We applaud Arkansas for taking a bold stand against antisemitic and national origin discrimination,” Israeli-American Coalition (IAC) for Action Chair Shawn Evenhaim said in a statement. “By acting today, Arkansas is helping generate a nationwide movement of states protecting their citizens against anti-Jewish bias and hatred.”

IAC for Action Executive Director Joseph Sabag also said in a statement, “It was an honor to help lead the drafting and passage of this bill. Arkansas’ bill takes the strongest possible approach in combating antisemitic crime and discrimination. This new law should be considered a model for all other states moving forward. We extend our sincere thanks to Governor Huckabee for swiftly signing this bill into law.” Sabag thanked Republican State Senator Jim Dotson and State Representative Mindy McAlindon for sponsoring the bill as well as StandWithUs and the National Jewish Advocacy Center’s Mark Goldfeder for partnering with IAC for Action on the matter.

Other Jewish groups also praised Sanders for signing the bill into law.

“We must define anti-Jewish hatred in order to fight it, so congratulations to Arkansas governor @SarahHuckabee Sanders for adopting [the IHRA] definition of antisemitism – the gold standard definition,” StandWithUs Israel Executive Director Michael Dickson tweeted.

We must define anti-Jewish hatred in order to fight it, so congratulations to Arkansas governor @SarahHuckabee Sanders for adopting ⁦@TheIHRA⁩ International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism – the gold standard definition. https://t.co/HKY0imEOm4

— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) February 28, 2023

The Simon Wiesenthal Center thanked Sanders in a tweet and added that they hoped others would follow suit.

Thank you Governor @SarahHuckabee. Hope others will follow! https://t.co/dpYBwVIqoE

— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) February 28, 2023