Ohio Senate Approves Bill to Broaden Definition of Ethnic Intimidation

In Columbus, Ohio, lawmakers are hurrying to pass new bills before the year wraps up. Another piece of legislation that has attracted negative attention was approved by the Ohio Senate on Wednesday. 

Senate Bill 297, which would define antisemitism and expand the offense of ethnic intimidation in the state, passed 27 to 4.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), would expand the offense of ethnic intimidation to include violations of riot and aggravated right, committed by reason of race, color, religion, or national origin of another person or group. It would also define antisemitism for the purpose of state investigations to put a stop to hate crimes against Jewish people.

“This legislation seeks to define antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities,” Sen. Johnson said.

Ahead of the Senate session Wednesday afternoon, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), held a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse. The goal was to urge lawmakers not to pass the bill, claiming it’s designed to stifle political speech and target Palestinians.

Khalid Turaani, executive director of CAIR-Ohio, shared their biggest problem with the bill. 

“This bill, I believe, is not about antisemitism; it is about First Amendment right because it seeks to stifle people’s right to express their views and outrage at war crimes that are being committed by a foreign country. I think to stifle that First Amendment speech, conflating it with antisemitism, I think is a big disservice to Ohioans and the American people,” Turaani said.

To move forward, the bill has to be approved by the House. The last scheduled session for the General Assembly is next Wednesday.