The only Jewish member of Georgia’s legislature received a postcard about ”gassing the Jews” just hours before the signing of a new anti-semitism bill she sponsored.
Esther Panitch discovered the postcard in her mailbox on Wednesday morning shortly before Governor Brian Kemp signed the bill into law.
Panitch, 52, said she had given the postcard to police for investigation.
“It’s unnerving. Everyone should be able to feel safe at home,” she told Atlanta News First.
“Somebody invaded my home. This has my name and my address on it. It was put through the mail. So this was obviously intended for me to see.”
The bill added to the state code a reference to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-semitism.
After the bill passed, Panitch said she felt “overwhelmed.”
“I’ve got lots of emotions going on at the same time,” the Democrat said.
“There are 150,000 Jews in Georgia that now feel like they have been seen, and heard, and acknowledged and protected.”
The bill was criticised by some politicians and activists who said it could be used to censor free speech and criticism of israel.
Azka Mahmood, executive director of the Center for American-Islamic Relations, said: “This bill will target pro-Palestine advocates and we have seen it applied already across the state.
“In the state of Georgia, we are seeing a dangerous rise in the conflation of anti-Israel speech with antisemitism before this bill is even passed, and it is creating real harm and real danger for advocates of Palestine.”
The IHRA definition states: “Anti-semitism is 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.”
The IHRA definition cites examples of antisemitism such as accusing Jews outside of Israel of dual loyalty, comparing Israel to Nazis, calling Israel “racist,” “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,” and applying standards to Israel “not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”
