Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has enacted a new law defining antisemitism, aiming to facilitate law enforcement and prosecutors’ efforts in combating hate crimes and discriminatory acts against Jewish individuals. The legislation, House Bill 30, received widespread support from Atlanta’s Jewish community, GOP leaders, and state lawmakers, culminating in a bill signing ceremony at the State Capitol.
During the ceremony, Governor Kemp emphasized the state’s solidarity with its Jewish residents, affirming ongoing support for the community. Democratic State Representative Esther Panitch, a co-sponsor of the bill and the sole Jewish member of the Georgia Legislature, stood in solidarity despite receiving an antisemitic postcard prior to the event, choosing to focus on the significance of the day.
Lawmakers underscored the necessity of the law amid a surge in reported antisemitic incidents statewide and against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ceremony also saw the attendance of a survivor of the October 7 massacre near the Israel-Gaza border, whose brother was a victim of the attack, highlighting the personal impact of such violence.
The legislation adopts the definition of antisemitism provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which identifies it as a specific perception of Jews manifesting as hatred or directed actions toward individuals, property, community institutions, or religious facilities. The law, utilizing this definition, is slated to take immediate effect.