SHALOM Act would define antisemitism in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Amid the pro-Palestinian protests at UNC-Chapel Hill and on college campuses across the country, North Carolina state House Speaker Tim Moore (R) filed a bill this week that would define antisemitism in state law.

The bill , which is called the SHALOM Act, comes as the Anti-Defamation League reported a 361 percent increase in antisemitic incidents in the three months following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

“Any kind of hate speech whatsoever needs to be dealt with, but we see right now who the targets are. The targets are clearly Jewish students,” said Moore, who is running for a seat in Congress. “When does it cross that line? It has clearly crossed that line. You have folks literally right now celebrating the murder of innocent people.”

The bill uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism which describes it as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.” That can include “rhetorical and physical manifestations.”

Under the bill, the definition is used “as a tool and guide for training, education, recognizing, and combating antisemitic hate crimes or discrimination and for tracking and reporting antisemitic incidents to the state.”

Abby Lublin, executive director of Carolina Jews for Justice, said she opposes the bill, raising concerns about whether it could conflate criticism of the Israeli government’s policies with antisemitism.

“This bill and its chilling effect on speech and its chilling effect on protests actually makes us less safe,” she said. “This bill serves to further division and fear rather than fostering understanding and inclusivity. It prioritizes political agendas over the well-being and rights of Jewish citizens.”

She said the legislature should pass a bill Democrats have filed in several sessions that would establish a broader hate crime law in North Carolina.

Speaker Moore’s bill includes a provision saying it is not meant to “diminish or infringe” on rights protected by the First Amendment.

“It strikes that balance between the First Amendment, the right for folks to go out and protest peaceably, but balances against and punishes hate speech and intimidation,” Moore said.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill this week, broadening the legal definition of antisemitism. It passed by a margin of 320-91. It’s unclear if the Senate will act on it.

Phil Brodsky, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh, said he supports Moore’s bill. His group will meet with state leaders next week to advocate for its passage.

“This week we’re seeing it in the schools on college campuses. It’s not the protests, but it’s the outright hatred and antisemitism we’re seeing on signs and things that people are saying and the way they’re targeting students,” he said. “Antisemitism is considered the world’s oldest hatred. But, we do need a modern definition of what it is today.”

Brodsky said he thinks it draws a clear distinction between criticism of policies and hatred.

“This does not infringe upon any sort of democratic debate on issues. This is about targeting Jews for being Jewish. It’s about denying the Jewish people’s right to exist,” he said.

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