Tell the NJ Assembly: Oppose A3558 – Don’t Codify a Censorship Tool

Say NO to A3558 – This Bill Threatens Free Speech and Fuels Anti-Palestinian Racism

The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) strongly opposes New Jersey Assembly Bill A3558; we need your help to ensure it DOES NOT pass in the New Jersey Assembly.

We all must contact lawmakers in New Jersey and demand they oppose this bill. Don’t live in the state? It doesn’t matter – this bill could be coming to your state soon, this is why we must all take action to ensure its failure wherever it arises. 

New Jersey Assembly Bill A3558 seeks to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law. While framed as an anti-hate measure, this bill would codify a tool that has been repeatedly weaponized to suppress constitutionally protected speech, particularly criticism of Israeli government policies and advocacy for Palestinian rights.

A3558 directs state agencies to use the IHRA definition—including its vague “contemporary examples”—when evaluating allegations of discrimination. These examples conflate political criticism of Israel with antisemitism, which opens the door to censorship, surveillance, and legal retaliation against activists, students, scholars, and artists. The widespread criticism of the IHRA definition strongly signals its controversial nature and highlights the growing concern about its instrumentalization to infringe on freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.

Real Harms, Not Hypotheticals

Across the U.S., the IHRA definition has been used to suppress advocacy, censor academic debate, and punish dissent.

Email New Jersey Assembly Members Now!

Use the message below to urge members of the Assembly Committee on Community Development and Women’s Affairs to vote NO on A3558.