Oppose AB 446 (IHRA Bill) – Public Hearing Wednesday, Oct 22 •  7:00 AM Meet at Zao to carpool, 9:00 AM testimony begins in Madison •  417 North (GAR Hall), Wisconsin State CapitolAB 446 would require Wisconsin agencies to use the IHRA “working definition” of antisemitism, risking the suppression of protected political speech about Israel and Palestinian rights. Show up, get on the record, and help stop this bill. How to testify & get recorded (official record) Include your full name and address on written testimony to be included in the official record. Bring 12 printed copies (10 committee members + 1 for Leg. Council + 1 for you). Hand them to the Assembly Page when your name is called. If you can’t print, email a Word doc to rep.clancy@legis.wisconsin.gov with subject line “please print”. Pick up at office 21N or ask them to turn it in. Rep. Clancy’s office (21N) will be open as a check-in/break space during the hearing.  Quick hearing tips Arrive early, fill out a hearing slip, and keep remarks to ~3-5 minutes. Stay on the scope of AB 446. You may register “oppose” without speaking, but spoken testimony + written submission is strongest. Be calm and focused; don’t engage bill supporters in hallways or during testimony.  What AB 446 does and why we oppose it Directs state & local entities to use the IHRA definition when evaluating discrimination and hate-crime enhancers. Chills protected speech by blurring criticism of a foreign government’s actions with antisemitism. Existing federal & state law already prohibit antisemitic discrimination; AB 446 is unnecessary and constitutionally overbroad.  Take action today Write your testimony (Word doc). Put your full name & address at top. 3-5 pages max. Bring 12 copies to the hearing or email rep.clancy@legis.wisconsin.gov with subject “please print” (separate email just for printing). Email the committee (BCC all addresses below) with your statement attached as a Word doc. Email the Governor urging a veto if it passes: evers.wi.gov/pages/connect.aspx  BCC the committee (paste these in BCC)Rep.Swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Green@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Summerfield@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Moses@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Wittke@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Spiros@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Piwowarczyk@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Sinicki@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Kirsch@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Roe@legis.wisconsin.gov Helpful resources ACLU of Wisconsin: Comments Opposing AB 446 / SB 445 JVP Milwaukee Op-Ed (Journal Sentinel): Why IHRA codification is harmful Bill text & docket: AB 446 “The IHRA working definition… wrongly conflates legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its government and policies with antisemitism, which, if codified into law, could have a significant chilling effect on freedom of speech.” — Rep. Mark Pocan, to the Wisconsin Legislature Peace Action Wisconsin • Please forward to allies who can testify or submit statements today. |
| Peace Action of Wisconsin · PO Box 11126, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States |
(AB446 has a companion in the State Senate, SB445, but this is an Assembly hearing.)
As many people as possible are needed to come to the hearing and register or speak in defense of our free speech rights. In addition consider emailing the members of the hearing committee, and if you have time, contact your own Representative and Senator as well as Governor Tony Evers.
All instructions are below.
For critiques of the bill see this op-ed from Jewish Voice for Peace-Madison and this one from JVP-Milwaukee. Also this summary with link to a longer analysis by the WI ACLU.
ACTION DETAILS(1) Public Hearing Wed. October 22, 9 am, Room 417 North at the Capitol: Attend, Testify if You Wish
It’s best to be there at 9 am (or earlier), but come when you can. You do not have to stay for the entire hearing.
When you arrive, staff will give you a form to fill out asking what bill you are addressing. You can register for or against, and indicate if you also wish to speak. Remarks may be limited to as little as 2 minutes. We’re told that representatives of organizations usually go first, then people are called in order of forms being turned in. You may be asked questions. There should be space to sit in either the hearing room or overflow rooms, and you can choose to remain even after you have spoken.
Rep. Ryan Clancy has also offered his office, 21 North, as a check in/break space during the hearing.
If you plan to speak, it’s recommended you bring at least 12 written copies of your testimony to be given to committee members and staff. Your testimony must include your full name and address in order to get into the official record. If for some reason you can’t print, email your testimony as a Word doc to rep.clancy@legis.wisconsin.gov with the subject line “please print”; pick up at 21N or ask them to turn it in.
You don’t have to speak, but its important that we turn out large numbers (the bill’s supporters will be doing the same.)
(2) Can’t Come? Email the members of the Assembly State Affairs Committee to express your opinion on the bill.
Send a short, polite email to all the Assembly State Affairs Committee Members expressing your opinion on the bill.
We’re told that if you include your full name and street address, staff are less likely to ignore it. It has also been recommend to use “bcc” so that each recipient doesn’t assume its intended for the others.Committee members names and emails are:
Rep. Rob Swearingen, Chair <Rep.Swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Chanz J. Green, Vice Chair <Rep.Green@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Rob Summerfield <Rep.Summerfield@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Clint P. Moses <Rep.Moses@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Robert Wittke <Rep.Wittke@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. John Spiros <Rep.Spiros@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk <Rep.Piwowarczyk@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Christine Sinicki <Rep.Sinicki@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Karen Kirsch <Rep.Kirsch@legis.wisconsin.gov>, Rep. Ann Roe <Rep.Roe@legis.wisconsin.gov>
(3) Email your own Senator and Representative.Find your legislators here (type your address in the box at the top right). Be sure to include your full name and street address so they know you are a constituent.
(4) Contact Gov. Evers: Stopping this attack on our free speech rights may very well come down to a veto by Governor Tony Evers (and having enough votes to defeat an override.)
Please consider contacting Gov. Evers here expressing your opposition to the legislation and asking him to veto it if it comes across his desk.
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 