Fears of Free Speech Censorship Follow Florida's Antisemitism Bill

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A bill defining antisemitism in Florida passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary unanimously, though not without criticisms of censorship and First Amendment infringements.

"The bill draws from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, which is considered the gold standard throughout the world and has been adopted by 43 United Nations member states, and many state and local governments," The bill sponsor, Democratic Sen. Lori Berman, said.

In response to worries of First Amendment infringements, Sen. Berman amended the bill to state that antisemitism "does not include criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism of other countries. The definition may not be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected by the First Amendment or conflict with federal or state anti-discrimination laws,"

Despite the bill's newly amended form, criticisms still arose from from members of the public.

"The protection of any specific group should not come at the expense of restricting legitimate discourse," One woman, a war refugee from Bosnia, said. "Our communities should unite in these efforts, I would have loved to have seen a bill that includes all of us,"

A USF student spoke next, claiming the bill invites censorship of conversation. "One of the signs of a democracy in decline is censorship, because when a democracy falls, it leads to tyranny. We saw it in Rome, we saw it in Nazi Germany, and we're seeing it now,"

The adopted definition of the IHRA is as follows: A certain perception of Jewish individuals which may be expressed as hatred toward such individuals. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and their property and toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents have risen 337% since 2022, with 34 incidents occurring per day over a 61-day period between October 7th and December 7th.

"We have seen a tremendous rise in antisemitism...in the state of Florida, in the United States, and throughout the world, and we have to address it," Sen. Berman said in her close on the bill, "If we don't talk about it, if we don't identify and fight it, it will continue to grow, and it is not acceptable here in our society,"

The bill passed committee unanimously, and heads to the Committee on Criminal Justice.