Mayor issues executive order in support of official definition of antisemitism
CARMEL, IN - Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard has signed a new executive order to formally adopt the elements that define antisemitism, which is a growing concern across cities and college campuses across the nation.
The definition comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and it reads as follows:
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
"It is important to take a strong stand against antisemitism, hatred and discrimination of any kind in our City and I want everyone to know that we stand for freedom in Carmel and we embrace our Jewish residents and visitors," said Mayor Brainard. "We will not tolerate and will certainly condemn any acts of antisemitism in our City."
The executive order defines contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere that could include:
- Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
- Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective - such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government, or other societal institutions.
- Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non Jews.
- Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
- Accusing Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
- Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
- Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
- Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
- Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism to characterize Israel or Israelis.
- Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
- Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
The Mayor signed the executive order last week. You can read the entire document here.
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