NYC Mayor Signs Contentious Anti-Hate Order Despite Free Speech Fears

Eric Adams has officially adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition for use across New York City government through an executive order signed at a Manhattan synagogue. Adams justified the policy by citing rising hate crimes against Jewish residents and what he characterized as the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric following recent Middle Eastern conflicts.
The definition includes controversial examples that free speech advocates argue could be used to suppress legitimate political criticism of Israeli government actions. Particularly concerning to critics are provisions that could classify questioning Israel’s founding principles or applying comparative standards as forms of antisemitism, potentially limiting academic and political discourse about Middle Eastern affairs.
As Adams campaigns for reelection while dealing with federal bribery allegations, his adoption of this definition represents both a policy choice and an electoral strategy. His primary opponents present contrasting visions: Andrew Cuomo has aligned himself closely with Israeli leadership, while Zohran Mamdani has taken progressive positions that include calling Israeli actions in Gaza genocidal and promising to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the city.