(Jewish Group) Georgia's Jewish legislator promises to keep fighting after antisemitism bill fails

[Behind the Aegis]

Georgia’s Jewish legislator promises to keep fighting after antisemitism bill fails to come up for a vote

A much-discussed bill that would codify a definition of antisemitism into Georgia state law was not passed before the state assembly’s term ended, but the state’s lone Jewish legislator said she hasn’t given up hope.

In early March, the bill, which would see Georgia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, was overwhelmingly approved by the state House of Representatives. At the time, Democrat Esther Panitch, a Jewish woman and one of the bill’s sponsors, said she had no reason to believe the bill wouldn’t pass through the Senate.

But the Senate had not voted on the bill by the end of Wednesday, which marked the end of the assembly’s term.

“For the second year in a row, the Senate has ignored the cries of the Jewish community who are under attack,” Panitch told the Forward on Thursday. “And there’s no reason why. The lieutenant governor said it was an issue of public importance when he revised the bill and then failed to call it up even though it was 100% within his control.”

more...