Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts to testify at the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, on addressing antisemitism within an antiracist and liberatory framework
Boston, MA (February 10, 2025) — This afternoon, Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM) will testify on addressing antisemitism within an antiracist and liberatory framework, at the fourth meeting of the state’s Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. TIM is a statewide collective of organizations and individuals that came together around the belief that addressing antisemitism is essential, and that antisemitism should not be weaponized to silence Palestinians.
What: The Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM) coalition will present our vision for addressing antisemitism in K-12 schools to the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, co-chaired by Representative Simon Cataldo & Senator John Velis. TIM fully opposes antisemitism and believes that antisemitism should be fought within an inclusive and antiracist framework. We believe that addressing antisemitism is essential, and must be done with care, reflecting the diversity of all Jewish people in the Commonwealth and within a framework that embraces equity and inclusion for all.
Who: Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts is a group of Jewish, Muslim, labor, education, civil rights and other organizations and individuals advocating for justice and equity in the Commonwealth. Our alliance includes representatives from: Boston Workers Circle, Mass Peace Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Boston, If Not Now Boston, National Lawyers Guild – MA, Council on American-Islamic Relations – MA, Sawa: Newton-Area Alliance for Peace and Justice, the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Arlington for Palestine and many others.
When: TODAY, Monday February 10, 2025, 1-3pm Virtual livestream
Where: Massachusetts State House, Room A-1, 24 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108
Why: It is our deep and unwavering commitment to equality and justice for all – including Jews and Palestinians – that propels our work. We seek to ensure that the Commonwealth’s actions are inclusive, transparent, and constructive. Panelists representing Together for an Inclusive MA will focus their testimony on:
- The diversity of Jewish perspectives about Zionism, with many identifying as non-Zionist (69%), including those who identify as anti-Zionist (20%).
- Our knowledge of the prevalence and nature of antisemitism in Massachusetts is limited, as demonstrated by the findings of researchers at Jewish Currents, The Forward, and by Wikipedia, among others, who have concluded that the ADL is not a reliable source.
- Bigotry and discrimination against one group cannot be addressed by normalizing bigotry and discrimination against another group. We reject the labeling of Palestinians who talk about their own life experiences as racist against Jews or suggestions that Jews are harmed by Palestinian humanity or that Jewish safety depends on silencing and erasing criticism of Israel.
- Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts unequivocally opposes the adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which is used to justify suppression of political speech and to censor fact-based education. This definition gives the state of Israel civil rights that are reserved for people and offers protection from criticism that no other state, including the US, enjoys.
- Educational institutions are fundamental to a healthy democracy, and our schools should be allowed to equip students with critical thinking and analytical skills to be able to engage with current and historical events and to develop their own well-researched opinions. Educators need to be able to present a diversity of factual resources as well as the skills to guide students in discussing difficult topics. The Commission must resist campaigns to censor and erase Palestine and Palestinians from Massachusetts’ curriculum.
- We believe that an antiracist approach to antisemitism uplifts all communities and does not harm one group for the supposed benefit of another. There are several sources for understanding antisemitism through an intersectional and/or liberatory framework which we shared in our written testimony.
- The Commission must uphold Constitutional protections, of both free speech, and religious freedom.
Please read Together for an Inclusive MA’s formal testimony here.
