To Eric Adams, Mayor of The City of New York:
We are writing as individual Jewish employees of The City of New York to express deep concerns about the executive order you signed on June 8th directing City agencies to adopt the working definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
The broad IHRA definition sets a dangerous precedent by conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, turning any challenge to Israel’s policies and actions into a potential act of antisemitism.
As Jews, we do not feel protected by this executive order. In fact, we feel more vulnerable because of it. By weaponizing antisemitism to censor voices against Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, this executive order puts Jewish people at risk of being held responsible for the US government’s autocratic suppression of free speech. T his does nothing to curb antisemitism and actively harms Jewish New Yorkers by putting them at high risk for censorship and violence. Furthermore, this conflation completely obscures _actual_ antisemitism. If you and our other elected officials are serious about curbing antisemitism in our city, you must cease using Jews as political pawns.
Our concern is not a theoretical one, and we are not alone in feeling it. Kenneth S. Stern, the lead drafter of the IHRA definition, has said “as I testified before Congress in 2017… the working definition has been primarily used (and I argue, grossly abused) to suppress and chill pro-Palestinian speech”( _1_ ). We are witnessing this in real time, as the US government actively weaponizes antisemitism to clamp down, arrest, and deport people legitimately protesting around the country, including New Yorkers that we serve. International human rights and civil rights organizations including the ACLU, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have opposed the use of the IHRA definition ( _2_ ).
Therefore, we urge you to immediately rescind the executive order signed adopting the use of IHRA definition of antisemitism.
Sincerely,
[The views expressed here are those of individuals and do not represent the city agency]
Rachel Suss, DOHMH
Sarah M, DOHMH
HM, DOHMH
Sara A, DOHMH
Ronen Gamil (Jewish Israeli), Department of Transportation
Paul Medvetsky, Department of City Planning
Anonymous, DORIS
Louis Moskowitz, DOHMH
Isaac K, Department of Parks and Recreation
Jon G, HRA
Jenna Gogan, Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit
Rachel F, NYC DOT
Max Marinoff, Dept. City Planning
Alex Resnick
Dan K., City Council
Jess K.
Dillon S., Samaritan Daytop Village
Michelle Paggi, DOHMH
Madelyn Ringold-brown, DC37
Abby C., DOE
Jacob G, NYC Parks
Georgina C, NYC Parks
Jesse Meyerson, OMB
David J, NYCPS
Alex Z, DOHMH
Sarah Canfield, DOHMH
Lailah Hanit, NYC Law Department
Adam Light, OMB
Chelsea S Y, Parks
Mel D, NYCHHC
Anonymous, NYCEDC
AW, NYC Aging
AK, DOHMH
Pablo Sadler, DOHMH
Rosie R, Parks and Recreation
Marco A., NYC Parks
Wes M, Department of Parks and Recreation
Melissa M, Brooklyn Public Library
Anonymous, Department of City Planning
Pearl Mutnick, NYC Health+Hospitals
Heather, DOHMH
Gav M, DOE/NYCPS
Anonymous, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
Rob Bryan, CCRB
Zach Sheola, Department of Social Services
Gabriel, NYC DOE
Anonymous, NYC DOT
AF, NYC Public Schools
Andy Goldstein, DSS
Eric H., Brooklyn Public Library
Kelsey G., Brooklyn Museum
Sasha J., Brooklyn Public Library
Sophie M., NYC DOT
RH, NYC Council
M.P., NYC DOT
ST, NYPL
Eliza J, Small Business Services
Salome S, Department of Transportation
Ben S, NYC DOT
Eugene Massey, DOHMH
Mia-Eloise Bruner, New York Public Library
Kira C., NYPL
J. Shapiro, NYPL
Daniel A. Kaufman, Queens College, CUNY
Mabel Kessler, NYC DOT
Maya Landy, Parks and Recreation
Lisa S., Landmarks Preservation Commission
Hal s, NYPL
Amy G, Parks
Julian Elman, NYPL
J. Green, Brooklyn Public Library
In solidarity,
Meghan Peterson, DOHMH
Kate, DOHMH
Damien Archbold, NYCH+H/Elmhurst
Anonymous, NYC Public Schools
Anonymous, NYCEDC
Jack Lundquist, HPD
Anonymous, DOT
Kerry Goleski, DOT
Anonymous, HPD
FH, NYC H+H
Marshall LW, Parks
ST, DOHMH
Jenny T, DOHMH
Neha S, NYC Parks
Cherise Mohammed, Brooklyn
Anonymous, Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit
Kira W., NYCDPR (Parks)
Danielle K, DOHMH
RF, DEP
Anonymous, DOHMH
Hannah Wargo, NYC Parks
Martha Alexander, DOHMH
Jon W, NYCDOE
Alex Driver, NYCPS
SJB Teacher, NYCPS
AI, Law Department
Anonymous, New York City Public Schools
Anonymous, DOHMH
Brianna S., NYCHA
Anonymous, NYC HHC
Elise Reynolds, HRA
Pablo Haake, Housing Preservation and Development
Anonymous, Department of City Planning
Judee A, Department of Environmental Protection
Grayson C, NYC Health Department
Jacqueline A., Department of Education
AMS, NYC Parks
CC, DEP
N.H., ACS
Walker J, NYC DOT
BB, Department of City Planning
Anonymous, NYPD
Anonymous, NYC Department of Transportation
Heather S., NYPL
Anonymous, Queens District Attorney’s Office
Paul Duke
Ray D.
JH, Parks
Katie S., Dept. of Parks & Recreation
CS, HPD
Eva H, Department of Finance
Max S, Bronx Borough Presidents Office
Kayla M., Parks
RM, library
kaity lloyd-styles, DOHMH
Tyler Tichenor, HPD
Emily, DYCD
Sarah C., Department of Records and Information Services
Renuka Varigonda, DOHMH
Michael Nameishi
CC, Department of Social Services
A.P. Crowley, CUNY
Kayleen Peña, Brooklyn Public Library
Ash A., NYPL
Thelma Carrillo, DOHMH
Patsine F., Queens Public Library
JSG, DOHMH
Jeremiah Cedeno
Matt Balik, New York Public Library
Kirklyn Escondo, NYC DOHMH
Sarah Ann Adams, New York Public Library
Mus Lamia, NYC Council
AM, NYC Parks
Katarina M., DOT
Alana M, NYPL
Rebecca H, NYC TLC
Gabriela P
Marilyn B, NYCBOE
Adolfo
Jeff Zhao, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Jim S., NYCHA
AR, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Quinn Hood, DOHMH
Clare B, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Randy Cruz, DOHMH
Grace H, Health Department
William R Schmidt, Parks and Rec
Gabriella C, Parks
Haley S., DCWP
A. Paris, NYPL
Elizabeth B, NYPL
Benjamin S, NYPD
Jonah Bautista, DOHMH