The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today urged Ohioans to take action against Senate Bill 87 (SB 87), legislation that seeks to codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law. If enacted, this bill could wrongly conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, posing a serious threat to free speech, academic freedom, and advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Contact your Ohio legislators and urge them to vote NO on SB 87. Protect free speech and the right to advocate for Palestinian human rights.
SB 87 would establish the IHRA definition as a legal standard, potentially silencing pro-Palestinian advocacy, academic discussions, and human rights activism. The bill’s vague and overbroad language creates uncertainty about what constitutes a violation, increasing the risk of censorship and legal consequences for individuals and organizations engaging in legitimate political discourse. The chilling effect of this legislation could stifle essential discussions on Israeli policies, preventing Ohioans from exercising their First Amendment rights.
Furthermore, SB 87 is unnecessary and redundant, as existing Ohio law (ORC 2927.12) already provides protections against ethnic intimidation. Rather than addressing antisemitism effectively, this bill conflates racial and religious discrimination with political critique. Even the lead author of the IHRA definition has stated that it was never meant to serve as a legal tool, yet SB 87 weaponizes it in a way that disproportionately targets Palestinian rights advocates and academic institutions. The passage of this bill would set a dangerous precedent for legislative overreach into free speech protections, threatening the constitutional rights of Ohioans.
In a statement, CAIR Ohio, Columbus & Cincinnati Executive Director Khalid Turaani said,
“CAIR-Ohio recognizes that antisemitism is a real threat to Ohio communities but does not believe SB 87 is the solution. This bill’s vague and overly broad language will have dangerous unintended consequences—silencing free speech, suppressing advocacy, and threatening academic freedom. Lawmakers must reject this unconstitutional overreach to protect the rights of all Ohioans.”
In a statement, CAIR Ohio, Cleveland & Northern Ohio Executive Director Faten Husni Odeh said,
“Ohioans already rejected SB 297 last year, and now lawmakers are pushing the same unconstitutional overreach with SB 87. SB 87 goes beyond silencing speech—it introduces a dangerous criminal component that could penalize Ohioans for engaging in legitimate political advocacy. By broadening ethnic intimidation laws to include vague definitions of antisemitism, this bill risks criminalizing protected speech and activism. Lawmakers must reject SB 87 to prevent unjust prosecutions and protect fundamental rights.”