Wisconsin Rep. Francesca Hong strongly criticized Gov. Tony Evers after Evers signed a bill defining antisemitism in state law, wrongly claiming it would criminalize criticism of Israel.
State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) sharply criticized Gov. Tony Evers after he signed legislation adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism into Wisconsin law.
In a statement posted to social media, Hong called the move “disappointing” and said Wisconsin Act 143 “will compromise free speech across the state and academic freedom at our universities.” She argued the bill “will likely make criticism of the state of Israel a discriminatory offense” and insisted it would not make anyone safer amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The non-binding measure, passed by the Assembly 66-33 in February and cleared the Senate by voice vote, directs state and local officials to consider the IHRA definition when investigating bias or hate crimes. Jewish advocacy groups praised it as a tool to combat discrimination.
Several Democrats joined progressive organizations in opposing the bill. Reps. Hong and Ryan Clancy voted against it in the Assembly, where the Democratic caucus split. More than 40 civil-rights, faith and labor groups — including the ACLU of Wisconsin, Citizen Action and Muslim advocacy organizations — urged Evers to veto the measure, citing free-speech concerns.
However, Hong’s claim that the law would criminalize criticism of Israel is incorrect. The IHRA definition itself contains an explicit caveat: “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
Supporters of the new law note the framework targets only rhetoric that denies Jewish self-determination or applies double standards to Israel, while protecting legitimate policy debate.
