Governor Kevin Stitt pledges “Never Again” on Holocaust Remembrance Day — Oklahoma adopts IHRA working definition of Antisemitism

Oklahoma City — Governor Kevin Stitt issued a proclamation on January 27 reaffirming the promise to never forget the horrific events of the Holocaust and raise awareness of rising antisemitism in America on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The proclamation also adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

Antisemitic incidents are on the rise in the United States. In 2020, the Anti-Defamation League tracked a 40% increase nationally in reported incidents at Jewish institutions such as synagogues, Jewish community centers and schools. Recently four people were taken hostage at a synagogue in Texas in a targeted antisemitic attack.

Governor Stitt’s proclamation reads, in part:

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor, hereby proclaim that we the people of the State of Oklahoma recommit ourselves to the promise that Never Again can such a tragedy occur by remembering the victims of the Holocaust, teaching our children about this tragedy and using the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a tool for identifying and speaking out against antisemitism.”

Read the full proclamation here:https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/governor/docu