Assemblyman Inganamort defends bill defining antisemitism during heated Assembly committee hearing
TRENTON, N.J. — Assemblyman Michael Inganamort testified Thursday in support of legislation he is sponsoring to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, telling a state Assembly panel the bill draws a clear distinction between protected speech and hate-fueled rhetoric.
The measure, Assembly Bill 3558, would establish an official state definition of antisemitism to help identify incidents motivated by antisemitic views. Inganamort (R-Sussex, Morris, Warren) delivered his remarks during a contentious hearing of the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.
“I want to be crystal clear: this bill does not silence debate, nor should it. It does not ban criticism of Israeli policies, nor should it. It does not infringe on anyone’s First Amendment rights, which in my views are sacred,” Inganamort told the committee. “What it does do is clarify when rhetoric or conduct crosses the line into antisemitism—just as we would for any other form of bigotry.”
The IHRA’s definition, adopted by dozens of countries and institutions globally, provides a framework for identifying antisemitism, including certain forms of anti-Israel rhetoric that cross into discrimination.
Inganamort acknowledged that his district has a relatively small Jewish population, but said that was irrelevant to his responsibility as a legislator.
“I may not be Jewish. My district may not have many Jews as compared to others. But I didn’t swear an oath to represent just those who look or pray like me. I swore an oath to uphold justice—for all,” he said.
New Jersey is home to approximately 600,000 Jewish residents and ranked third in the nation for reported antisemitic incidents last year, according to recent data.
“Standing up to antisemitism is not a partisan issue. It’s a moral one,” Inganamort added. “I’m proud to stand with colleagues to say clearly: New Jersey will not look the other way. We will not be silent. We will define the problem so we can fight it.”
