Indiana

Changes to Indiana antisemitism bill drains support from many in Hoosier Jewish community – Indiana Capital Chronicle

Published

2 years ago

February 22, 2024

Changes to Indiana antisemitism bill drains support from many in Hoosier Jewish community – Indiana Capital Chronicle

A major change to a bill that would define and ban antisemitism at Indiana’s public education institutions led to a reversal of support and opposition among those who testified on the proposal at the Statehouse Wednesday.

In contention is the removal of a definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which was included in the original version of House Bill 1002.

The IHRA’s “working definition” includes contemporary examples of antisemitism, like “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor,” and “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel.”

Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers (Photo courtesy of Indiana House Republicans)

Lawmakers in the Senate education committee amended the legislation on Wednesday to remove mention of IHRA and its examples of antisemitism, however. The newest draft of the bill instead defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”

The measure was unanimously approved by the committee and now heads to the Senate floor.

“We’ve made some changes to try to ensure that we’re not referencing outside entities, but that we’re making the definition our own in the code, and the bill really tries to strike a balance of not impeding on any free speech, but just saying if we fund state education, we want that education to reflect our values as a body,” said Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, who authored the priority measure for the House GOP caucus.

“We wanted to be careful about referencing sort of outside groups, because if their definition changes, we don’t want anybody to impose that ours is supposed to be changed,” he continued.

But numerous members of Indiana’s Jewish community said they can’t support the bill unless it codifies the IHRA definition into state law.

“I’m extremely disappointed that the amendment that passed did not include reference to the IHRA statement. This essentially gutted the bill we wrote, and now leaves Jews without equal protection,” said Allon Friedman, president of the Jewish Affairs Committee of Indiana, which helped craft the bill. “This is essentially abandonment of the Indiana Jewish community and unwittingly rewards our enemies. … The Jewish community is absolutely united on this issue — we do not want the bill without IHRA.”

What is the IHRA definition?

Indiana law already bans discrimination on the basis of race and “creed,” which means religion. The legislation specifies that antisemitism — bias against Jewish people — is religious discrimination and is not allowed within the public education system.

The definition approved by the Senate committee is part — but not all — of IHRA’s overall definition of antisemitism.

By removing reference to IHRA, the bill excludes the alliance’s examples of contemporary antisemitism that would have also been outlawed in Indiana, including:

Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Jeter filed an identical bill in 2023. It passed out of the House in a 97-0 vote but never received a committee hearing in the Senate, effectively killing the proposal.

He conceded Wednesday “there was some issue with some of those examples,” though.

“Anytime we do lists in bills and legislation, I feel like it gets a little iffy,” he told the Senate committee.

Before the amendment, critics of the proposal maintained it limits free speech and suggests criticism of a foreign government would count as anti-Jewish rhetoric.

More than two dozen people who testified against the original bill emphasized that criticism of the Israeli government does not amount to antisemitism. Some warned of witch hunts under the vague definition.

Many of those issues appeared to be resolved with the updated version of Jeter’s bill.

“Most of our concerns with this bill were related to very specific language that was in there that conflated antisemitism with criticism against the State of Israel. As this amendment stands now, most of those concerns have been addressed,” said Syed Ali Saeed, president of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network. “I don’t think the IHRA definition is the best definition. It’s not the most complete, most fluid definition that’s out there.”

Indiana lawmakers move forward with bills to ban antisemitism, expand workforce training funds

Maliha Zafar, executive director of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, added that although the examples in the IHRA definition “undeniably address antisemitic sentiments,” the list is “concurrently overly broad and would have inadvertently stifled legitimate criticism and analysis of Israeli policies.”

Daniel Segal, representing Jewish Voice for Peace – Indiana, said the group “strongly objected” to the IHRA definition’s examples of anti semitism and its “confusing criticism of the State of Israel, and its policies, with antisemitism.”

“We believe that the amendments that have been made render this bill acceptable — the harmful elements have been removed,” Segal said. “The previous bill, we thought, was harmful to our Arab brothers and sisters, and we committed as Jews to ensuring that ‘never again’ is for everybody. And that includes Palestinians. As Jews, that is part of our faith and is part of what we learned from the horrible experience of the Holocaust.”

Jewish community withdraws support

Although originally in support of the bill, many from Indiana’s Jewish community said “hateful” and “harmful” acts of semitism will continue across the state’s colleges and universities unless the IHRA definition is added back in.

“As a Jewish student, we navigate a world where concealing our identity has become a necessity. On a campus where 10 to 12% of students are Jewish, incidents of antisemitism have skyrocketed by over 800%,” said Indiana University junior Kaylee Werner, who is also chair of the school’s Antisemitism Prevention Task Force.

She pointed to vandalism and swastikas “stained” on campus walls, as well as “unfair treatment” against Jewish students by some professors.

“This is the harsh reality that we face daily. The House-passed IHRA statement offers a beacon of hope in this darkness. It equips our administration with the necessary tools to combat antisemitism effectively and educate our community,” Werner said. “In this conversation, there is no room for ambiguity. There is either hate, or there is acceptance. There’s either right, or there’s wrong. We urgently need this statement to clearly identify and denounce these acts as antisemitism.”

Rabbi Sue Silberberg, executive director at IU Hillel, additionally emphasized that “we need the bill as passed through the House in order to protect the Jewish students on campus who are suffering every single day.”

In this conversation, there is no room for ambiguity. There is either hate, or there is acceptance. There’s either right, or there’s wrong. We urgently need this statement to clearly identify and denounce these acts as antisemitism.

– Indiana University junior Kaylee Werner

“We must recognize that Jewish students are marginalized, hated and discriminated against based on their spiritual connection, and this is antisemitism. … They are being harassed, they are being bullied, and they are being marginalized,” she said, noting that — since the Hamas attack in October — she has been “working with and seeing students who are facing severe antisemitism on campus every single day, in a way that I have not seen in the past 35 years.”

Even so, Sen. John Crane, R-Avon, said antisemitism and mistreatment of “Jews or any ethnic or racial group” is “absolutely abhorrent, the challenge is whether “government will be able to solve that.”

“I don’t think so,” Crane said. “I’m of a mind of a gentleman named Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who survived in the Russian Gulag, who said the line separating good and evil runs straight through the human heart. And at the end of the day, it’s a human problem that we’re going to have to be able to address, irrespective of whatever steps we attempt to take through governmental action.”

Several other Republican senators said Wednesday they were concerned about the amended bill, citing oppositional testimony from those in the Hoosier Jewish community.

Those lawmakers still voted in favor of the bill but said they want additional changes on the chamber floor to address those grievances.

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Indiana

Creole Chrome Looks for Graded Glory in Indiana Derby

Published

34 minutes ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Creole Chrome Looks for Graded Glory in Indiana Derby

After Three Diamonds Farm’s Creole Chrome got bounced around by some of the country’s best and fastest 3-year-olds, trainer Joe Sharp thought a confidence-builder was in order before heading to Saturday’s $300,000, Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Would an 18-length romp work? That was Creole Chrome’s winning margin against fellow Louisiana-breds in Evangeline Downs’ Louisiana Legends Cheval Stakes at a two-turn mile on June 6.

“Mission accomplished,” Sharp said by phone from Saratoga. “He came out of the race in really good order. We wanted to try taking the blinkers off and going back to a stretch-out. He was able to relax nicely going into the first turn, set off those two horses, and I think he made the lead just on class alone. But he just seemed real comfortable, within himself, and you know that gave him some confidence to try a little bit deeper water again.”

That comes in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby, where Creole Chrome is among the leading contenders in what shapes up as a field of seven 3-year-olds. A chestnut son of Three Chimneys’ Grade 1-winning Kentucky stallion Volatile, Creole Chrome was foaled in Louisiana and began his career winning three of four starts against Louisiana-breds at the Fair Grounds.

That encouraged his team to take a shot at Keeneland’s Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass, where a win or second could have secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Creole Chrome finished fourth, with Further Ado rolling to an 11-length victory. Instead of the Derby, Creole Chrome ran the same day in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile around one turn. He again was up close early before weakening to sixth.

“I think we asked him to be quick, to be close in a couple of spots,” Sharp reflected. “It was kind of a reset to go down to Louisiana and try something different, and it all worked out well.

“We were obviously expecting to win the race, but we were also trying to use it as a building block to set us up for this race here. What we were hoping to accomplish was to be able to sit, just be able to settle a little bit early. And that’s what we saw; that’s what we were happy with. Obviously, as the waters get deeper, you can’t be one-dimensional if you want to take on more upper levels of competition.”

Sharp said Creole Chrome was too much on the engine in the Blue Grass.

“That was the first time he’d gotten a little bit keen on us,” he said. “I kind of gave Tyler (Gaffalione) instructions that probably were bad. Because I was anticipating him to be able to kind of squeeze away from there, get a good position, and then the horse would relax for him. Once he squeezed on him, he didn’t relax and just never really shut off. Same thing back to the Pat Day Mile, Irad (Ortiz) had ridden him in the morning, had a lot of confidence in him. When he broke and asked him to get position, he wouldn’t get off the bridle and then was five-wide — just not the way you can win a big race. So yeah, I think we all just kind of learned something about the horse. That’s why the race in Louisiana was important, just to explore a new tactic with him.”

Creole Chrome will have his sixth different rider in six races (Timothy Thornton rode him at Evangeline Downs), with Ortiz riding the Brad Cox-trained Leading Change, who could be made the Indiana Derby betting favorite off an impressive debut race. Sharp was able to get another nationally prominent jockey in Junior Alvarado, winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on Horse of the Year Sovereignty. Alvarado was coming to Horseshoe Indianapolis to ride Star Actress in the $200,000, Grade 3 Indiana Oaks for trainer Bill Mott.

“He’s never going to be a horse that’s far back, right?” Sharp said. “We’re not going to fight him if he’s on the lead. But just the ability to shut off and relax is what he seemed to really show that he could do in that last race at Louisiana.”

Sharp is among those who think the public will make Leading Change the favorite off his 6 1/2-length maiden win at Churchill Downs, even if it’s his only start and came at seven furlongs.

“We ran second to Brad’s horse in that maiden race at Churchill Downs, and we liked our horse (Don’s Winner) a lot,” Sharp said. “So, I was impressed by his horse that day. Obviously, Creole has a lot more seasoning, so hopefully the race experience will help him out, because you know Brad’s horse is not short of ability.”

Ortiz seconds that opinion of Leading Change, opting to come to Indiana to ride instead of being at Saratoga.

“He won nicely the first time out in the debut,” Ortiz said up at Saratoga. “He is very straightforward and has a good mind. I was working him last year and, unfortunately, he did not make the races (as a 2-year-old). He was working good, and he has looked like a nice horse since Day One. First time out, the way he did it was impressive.

“Obviously, he just broke his maiden. But he can step up a little bit with some nice horses.”

Sharp does get the services of Ortiz aboard Miwa, one of the favorites in the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap on the Indiana Derby undercard. Miwa won a Churchill Downs allowance race in her first start since November.

“She ran a great race back off the layoff the other day,” he said. “She was really, really good to us at Kentucky Downs. She won down there, and I wheeled her back in eight days, and she ran third in a $2 million stakes. In hindsight, that kind of wiped her out for the year. She was kind of a little flat after that, so they freshened her, brought her back, and she ran a huge race. We’re trying to get her a stakes win, get her some black type.”

Sharp also has the stakes-winning Seminole Chief in the $100,000 Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial for older males on turf. In his first start for Sharp last time out, Seminole Chief won a $75,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs.

“He’s obviously has the back class to be competitive against these kinds,” Sharp said. “I thought he ran one of his best races in recent years the other day. So, staying local and giving him a little shot at picking up some more black type made sense. But I thought that race came up pretty tough.”

Indiana Derby Day begins at 12 p.m. for the 13-race card. Additional activities surround the event trackside, including a $3,000 Indiana Derby Megabet drawing, $2,500 Indiana Derby Day Legends contest sponsored by Indiana HBPA, and a $1,000 Indiana Derby Hat Contest. Fans will also be treated to a cigar rolling station, selfie station, and face painting for the kids. Food trucks and various booths will also be available throughout the day, leading up to the Indiana Derby set as Race 12 on the program.

The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse extends through Friday, November 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.

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Kelsey Mitchell winner completes Fever comeback against Mercury, without Caitlin Clark

Published

11 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Kelsey Mitchell winner completes Fever comeback against Mercury, without Caitlin Clark

PHOENIX — The Indiana Fever barely eked out of Mortgage Matchup Arena with a 92-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night on the second night of a back-to-back.

Caitlin Clark (rest) did not play after making her return on a minutes restriction on Wednesday against Los Angeles. Aliyah Boston, who missed the game against L.A. for precautionary reasons, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds against the Mercury.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting, adding on eight assists. She hit the game-winning layup with 10 seconds left. Tyasha Harris finished with 15 points and five assists, including a stretch of nine of 11 Fever points to close the gap.

Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas had 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Kahleah Copper added 22 points and five rebounds.

Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the win means.

Buy 2026 Indiana Fever tickets!

What I liked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury

Early 3-point shooting: One of Boston’s main focuses this offseason was improving her 3-point shot, and it’s coming to fruition. She made two 3-pointers in the first quarter, helping lead the Fever to six total makes beyond the arc in the opening 10-minute period. Harris, starting in place of Clark, had two 3-pointers in the first quarter, as well, with Lexie Hull and Mitchell each making one. At the time, it was big for the Fever to maintain a lead.
Roaring back in the third quarter: Basketball is a game of runs, and the Fever embodied that. They led by 12 in the first, then trailed by four at halftime, then went on a 20-9 run over seven minutes in the third quarter to take a one-point lead by the end of the third. Mitchell was the one to lead that comeback, scoring nine points on 3-of-6 shooting along with three assists in that quarter. The third was crucial for the Fever not just to get back into the lead, but, especially on a back-to-back, to try and have the mental fortitude to close the game out.
Tyasha Harris coming in clutch: Harris’ role has expanded since Clark has been out (or limited), and she is making the most of her minutes. She scored nine points in the fourth quarter alone, including a 3-pointer with three minutes left to take the lead, then four straight points to give the Fever the lead again with 44 seconds left. She finished the game with 15 points and five assists, being the facilitator the Fever need while Clark recovers.

What I disliked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury

Second-quarter slide: For the second straight game, the Fever held a double-digit lead in the first quarter then were trailing by halftime. The Fever allowed the Mercury to shoot 12 of 20 from the field in the second quarter (and 5 of 8 from 3-point range), completely negating the Fever’s six 3-pointers from the first quarter. Phoenix went on a 12-2 run over the final three minutes of the quarter, too, taking advantage of the Fever’s off the mark shots.
Silly mistakes: In a close game like this, every possession matters. And every mistake compounds. The Fever had a few in the second half, including a shot-clock violation from Harris where she wasn’t even in shooting motion yet, a defensive three-seconds foul from Aliyah Boston, a backcourt violation from Kelsey Mitchell, and another shot clock violation from Raven Johnson to start the fourth quarter. All of those mistakes gives Phoenix extra points or extra possessions. While the Fever ultimately won the game, it made it closer than it needed to be.

What the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury means

Indiana (13-9) is a strong team offensively, but recently, the Fever haven’t been able to get out of their own way on defense. It showed in the runs they gave up to Phoenix, flip-flopping the lead and forcing the Fever to continue to play from behind. It worked out for Indiana this time around, finding what they needed when they needed it, but it won’t be sustainable long term.

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.

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Attempted murder suspect arrested in Indianapolis for Bloomington shooting

Published

21 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Attempted murder suspect arrested in Indianapolis for Bloomington shooting

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — A Bloomington man was arrested Wednesday in Indianapolis on an attempted murder charge after police say he fired seven to eight rounds into a white GMC SUV occupied by three adults and four children last month in Bloomington before fleeing the area.

A news release issued Thursday from the Bloomington Police Department said members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s special weapons and tactics team took Kafern P. Johnson, 32, into custody near the intersection of West 84th Street and Allison Avenue in Indianapolis without incident.

The arrest came more than two weeks after the June 23 shooting in the 1000 block of North Summit Street. That’s in a residential area next to Crestmont Park in Bloomington.

Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch received 911 calls at 7:41 p.m. June 23 reporting gunfire in the area.

Responding patrol officers and detectives determined Johnson had fired into the SUV following a verbal fight with the vehicle’s driver. Police said the dispute stemmed from an argument over a relationship.

No injuries were reported despite the number of people inside the vehicle.

Following his arrest, Johnson was taken to an IMPD facility for questioning and later booked into the Marion County jail. On Thursday morning, he was booked into the Monroe County jail.

The release said Johnson could face felony charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a firearm, and pointing a firearm. No formal charges have yet been filed, according to online court records.

Bloomington police asked anyone with additional information to call 812-349-3324.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

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