Letter to the Editor: Lisa Potash

Letter to the editor,

Georgia HB 30, including the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism, will not advance the fight against Jew-hatred. Actions like the 250,000-strong outpouring against hatred of Jews and in defense of Israel’s right to exist, held in Washington, D.C. Nov. 14 in the wake of Hamas’ murderous October 7 pogrom, point in the right direction. We need to and can reach out to workers of all backgrounds, young people, and others to discuss, debate and win people to join this historic struggle to combat Jew-hatred.

Laws that can be used to criminalize free speech, no matter how repugnant the views, should be rejected. And all intentions aside, trying to get this bill passed miseducates those who want to fight Jew-hatred, by wrongly looking to the capitalist governments — be they in Washington or Atlanta, as the solution.

Those who issue threats and carry out acts of violence against Jews can be charged and tried under existing laws. However, “hate-crime” laws will inevitably be used against working people and others, including those fighting Jew-hatred. We all must fight to defend constitutional rights, which workers and unions need more and more as the capitalist crisis deepens and the class struggle grows.

Lisa Potash, Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. Congress in the 5th CD; participant in Nov. 14 rally in Washington, D.C.