The city of Wichita, Kansas has decided to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Anti-Semitism after a number of anti-Semitic flyers were distributed across the city over the summer.
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple signed a proclamation on Sept. 15 ordering education and law enforcement agencies to use the IHRA definition when addressing the issue of anti-Semitism.
Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), applauded the city of Wichita for adopting the definition, calling it “the best type of response to the anti-Semitism which the city has witnessed in recent months.”
“For too long, the anti-Semites have set the agenda and hidden behind the lack of a definition of anti-Semitism, so decisions like these are giving them much less space to spread their hate,” he said. “We look forward to the day when the IHRA Working Definition is universally adopted, but for now we can see great enthusiasm for it amongst those who want to combat the increase in anti-Semitism in the U.S. and elsewhere.”
The state of Kansas adopted the IHRA definition in March. So far, a total of 30 U.S. states and over 900 entities around the world have done so since 2016, according to CAM.