<div dir="ltr">I would like us to endorse this effort.<div><br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">Tony</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Tony Palomba</div><div dir="ltr">781-664-3525</div></div></div></div></div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">JVP Boston</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:jvpboston@gmail.com">jvpboston@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 12:06 PM<br>Subject: Urgent: New Massachusetts bill to silence Palestinian voices and free speech<br>To: JVP Boston <<a href="mailto:jvpboston@gmail.com">jvpboston@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><br clear="all"><div><p dir="ltr" id="m_-5525855451051960764gmail-docs-internal-guid-ae519e19-7fff-d656-d1fb-38013acc856b" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:medium;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:140px;height:97px"><img src="cid:ii_linbb4fj0" alt="image.png" width="140" height="97"></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:medium;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:184px;height:81px"><img src="cid:ii_linbb4fo1" alt="image.png" width="184" height="81"></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:medium;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:99px;height:99px"><img src="cid:ii_linbb4g02" alt="image.png" width="99" height="99"></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:medium;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:123px;height:96px"><img src="cid:ii_linbb4g33" alt="image.png" width="123" height="96"></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:medium;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:63px;height:86px"><img src="cid:ii_linbb4gb4" alt="image.png" width="63" height="86"></span></span></p><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1"><b> UUJME NE</b></font><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-size:14.666667px;white-space:pre-wrap">June 8, 2023</span><br><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear friends,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are writing to alert your organization to a dangerous new attempt to silence Palestinian voices and free speech in Massachusetts.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It comes in the form of deceptive new bill at the Massachusetts state house,</span><a href="https://legiscan.com/MA/text/H1558/2023" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">H.1558</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, which aims to codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into law. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Of course, antisemitism is a rising threat that must be dismantled as part of a broader struggle against white supremacy wherever it rears its ugly head. But the IHRA definition of antisemitism is a wolf in sheeps’ clothing. Even though it’s dressed up as a tool to fight hate speech, its actual purpose is to undermine the movement for justice in Palestine, free speech, and antiracist struggles by labeling critiques of Israel as antisemitic. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are attaching a document that explains why H. 1558 is deceptive, dangerous, and widely disputed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;white-space:pre-wrap">We are writing to ask your organization to endorse this campaign to stop codification of the IHRA definition in Massachusetts. </span></p><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font color="#ff0000"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please fill out</span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KlC0T9dAcpxUDQjIMGG8hXbe9xbQd0eqwBknVoVOwsE/edit?pli=1" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">this form</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> as soon as possible if your organization would like to add its name to the call to stop codification of the IHRA definition in Massachusetts.</span></font></p><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The bill is now in the Judiciary Committee. We will be lobbying committee members in the summer. According to state house sources, the hearing on this legislation will take place in the fall. We’ll reach out to you later in the summer to see if you would like to testify at the hearing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KlC0T9dAcpxUDQjIMGG8hXbe9xbQd0eqwBknVoVOwsE/edit" target="_blank"><b>For now, we ask your organization to endorse the campaign by filling out this form. </b></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please contact us at </span><a href="mailto:jvpboston@gmail.com" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">jvpboston@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> with any questions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thank you,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Boston Workers’ Circle, Jewish Voice for Peace Boston, Massachusetts Peace Action, and Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (New England Chapter) </span><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:Lexend,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><img src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4yY5wLEvGQH5lObJ8Y41Iw4i_u4OG4cDwjThZFZOB82yrDJ2dzyl_EKZIQUPLFfCbrEoL-RLXY"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Boston/204776866206992" target="_blank">Facebook</a><div>Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/JVPBoston" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Jewish Voice for Peace Boston</span><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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