Yesterday, after more than four hours of public comment from concerned San Diegans representing diverse communities across different city council districts, the San Diego City Council voted to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA definition conflates Jews with Israel, and criticism of Israel with antisemitism. As was made clear repeatedly by community members, this definition was not designed as a policy tool, and instead it has been intentionally mispurposed to silence criticism of Israel.
We know that we cannot combat antisemitism by silencing dissent. We know that we must fight discrimination and marginalization through solidarity. Our safety is bound together.
Unfortunately, our dear community members had to sit through Islamophobic attacks and propagandized videos by proponents of IHRA. These proponents slandered our movements for justice and launched the antisemitic trope directed at us that we are not “real Jews” for failing their loyalty test to Israel.
We also learned that the city Human Relations Commission, who brought this resolution to the City Council, pushed this through under the darkness of night, failing to post any public meeting minutes or recordings in which IHRA was discussed in violation of city policy.
We commend Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, the only council member to condemn Israel’s violence in Gaza, for being the sole dissenting voice and speaking the truth that adopting IHRA is not the way forward. We condemn the eight council members who refused to listen to their constituents.
Now more than ever, as Israel expands its wars against Lebanon, Iran and Palestine with full US backing, we must organize against the ethno-nationalist Zionist movement. We are proud of San Diego’s communities fighting for justice who spoke out yesterday.
We resolve to continue organizing for our collective liberation from Zionist nationalism, xenophobia, racism and discrimination of all forms. We invite you to join us.
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We are Jewish Voice for Peace San Diego chapter: Jews for Palestinian liberation & Judaism beyond Zionism. Learn more at www.jvpsandiego.org
JVP San Diego is a member of San Diego for Palestine, a coalition of San Diego-based grassroots, faith, student, youth, civic, advocacy, and service organizations advocating for Palestinian rights and freedoms. www.sandiego4palestine.org
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