Oklahoma Stands Against Antisemitism
- StandWithUs
- May 1
- 3 min read
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - The Oklahoma House gallery broke out in a standing ovation when SB 991, which codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, passed on April 30 with a 62-24 vote. SB 991 had passed the Senate in March with a 27-15 vote. The bill ensures that Oklahoma will utilize the IHRA definition as an educational tool for identifying unlawful acts of antisemitism, including hate crimes and discrimination. SB 991 now awaits the signature of Governor Kevin Stitt.
StandWithUs thanks Governor Stitt, Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert, and leading bill sponsors (Representatives Kenneth West, Tammy West, Suzanne Schreiber, Emily Gise, Daniel Pae, Mike Osburn, Brian Hill, Ellyn Hefner as well as Senators Kristen Thompson, Julie Daniels, Christi Gillespie, and Avery Frix) for helping move this hallmark bipartisan legislation to fruition.
StandWithUs also thanks its partners in the IAC for Action, the Israeli American Council, the National Jewish Advocacy Center, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, ADL Texoma, Jewish Federations of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Hillels, and the many other organizations who helped rally Oklahoma in support of SB 991. Oklahoma now joins a growing portfolio of over 30 states to have adopted the IHRA definition.
Jordan Cope, StandWithUs’ Director of Policy Education, who met with congressional members and Governor Stett to advocate on behalf of Oklahoma’s IHRA adoption, observed, “With antisemitism having exploded worldwide post-October 7, the IHRA definition remains a tool of paramount importance for helping identify and quell the mounting tide of antisemitism. Oklahoma’s moral clarity on this matter sets a clear example from which other states ought to draw inspiration as Jews around the world desperately seek assurances of their own safety.”
Josh Arbital, Senior Campus Regional Manager StandWithUs Central, joined StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, Allison P., together with representatives from the Jewish Federations of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, ADL Texoma, Oklahoma Hillels on April 15 at the Oklahoma State Capitol and 40 college students to educate lawmakers about IHRA.
SB 991 clarifies confusion about what antisemitism is, by adopting a definition that was drafted by leading world experts to express the needs of antisemitism victims. The IHRA definition has been adopted or endorsed by over 1,200 governments, institutions, and organizations, including the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Departments of Education and State, governments of roughly 40 countries, etc. The IHRA definition has been supported by both Republican and Democrat presidential administrations.
There has been confusion—sometimes intentional—about what adopting the IHRA definition means. Neither SB 991 nor the IHRA definition creates a special non-discrimination class for Jewish people. The IHRA definition is simply a guiding tool for identifying antisemitism that may assist in the application of already-existing laws where antisemitism may be involved.
Importantly, adopting the IHRA definition does not infringe upon First Amendment (free speech) rights. People still have their own free speech rights and responsibilities to condemn incidents of hatred and bigotry, and even use them as teachable moments. Referencing the IHRA definition to confront antisemitism does not violate anyone’s constitutional rights—no one has a right to be free from criticism after promoting hate.
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