truthout: “Right-wing lawmakers in Georgia are advancing two bills that would erode free speech and protest rights in the state. HB 30 would categorize criticism of Israel as antisemitic hate speech and SB 359 would significantly expand the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, enhancing sentencing based on “political beliefs.”…
“In the name of advocating against antisemitism, HB 30 manipulates the definition of antisemitism in ways that violate the First Amendment right to free speech and silences critiques of Israel’s human rights violations,” a coalition of civil rights advocates said in a statement. “The language in this bill is vague and opens the door for Georgians to be found in violation of agency regulations or to be prosecuted for voicing their opinions on Israel’s human rights violations and the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza even when a hateful act is not committed.”
Georgia is one of at least eight states across the country that have passed — or are considering passing — legislation that would define antisemitism within state law. Arkansas passed such a law in 2023, and similar bills are pending in Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Carolina and South Dakota. In December, the U.S. House also passed a resolution condemning antisemitism, which critics say was so broad that it would define criticism of the Israeli government or its politics as antisemitism.”