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<\/a><\/p>\nArizona Governor Katie Hobbs speaks to supporters at a campaign rally on November 06, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. (John Moore\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, this bill is not about antisemitism; it\u2019s about attacking our teachers,\u201d wrote Hobbs in a letter announcing the veto on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt puts an unacceptable level of personal liability in place for our public school, community college, and university educators and staff, opening them up to threats of personally costly lawsuits,\u201d Hobbs continued.<\/p>\n
The \u201cAntisemitism in Education Act\u201d outlined a laundry list of provisions that would be labeled as antisemitic and therefore warrant litigation by students and parents in K-12 schools and universities. The bill adhered to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which has been criticized for labeling some anti-Israel sentiments as antisemitic.<\/p>\n
Opponents of the bill said it violated the free speech rights of teachers, private universities and students.<\/p>\n
The sponsor of the bill, Republican State Rep. Michael Way, condemned Hobbs\u2019 veto in a post on X, \u201cI am deeply disappointed by her decision \u2014 paying lip service to opposing antisemitism while backing away from a law with real teeth,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
The Anti-Defamation League Desert Region, which encompasses Nevada and Arizona, wrote that they \u201crespect\u201d Hobbs\u2019 decision in a post on X Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cAntisemitism has no place in Arizona classrooms. We support the spirit and intent of HB2867, but remain concerned that the current language will not produce the intended result,\u201d the post read.<\/p>\n
The state\u2019s largest teacher\u2019s union, in a letter to Hobbs also signed by the National Council of Jewish Women Arizona, said that the legislation \u201cweaponizes legitimate concerns about antisemitism to attack public education.\u201d<\/p>\n