Overview

• The New York and New Jersey congressmen denounced Mamdani’s vow to drop the IHRA working definition and urged House passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act.
• The legislation would write the IHRA standard into federal law, but it has seen no movement in the House and faces Senate hurdles after contentious amendments.
• Mayor Eric Adams signed a June executive order directing city agencies to use IHRA as part of efforts to counter a spike in antisemitic incidents.
• Mamdani argues the IHRA approach can conflate anti-Zionist speech with antisemitism and reiterates support for BDS and nonviolent protest.
• Jewish organizations including the ADL endorse IHRA’s adoption and are pressing Congress to advance the Antisemitism Awareness Act.