STANDWITHUS
Highland Park Becomes First City in Illinois to Pass the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism into Law
August 12, 2025

In an historic unanimous vote of 7-0 on August 11, the Highland Park City Council passed an ordinance that officially adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of Antisemitism. This landmark legislation positions Highland Park as the first city in Illinois to enshrine this definition through an ordinance rather than a resolution. The ordinance requires the city manager to incorporate the IHRA working definition and its eleven contemporary examples when implementing employment and anti-discrimination policies. StandWithUs extends its heartfelt gratitude to Councilmember Annette Lidawer for her leadership and determination in advancing this essential legislation. The organization also thanks Mayor Nancy Rotering for facilitating the ordinance’s vote. READ MORE

JERUSALEM POST Highland Park Becomes First Illinois City to Enshrine IHRA Antisemitism Definition in Law In a landmark decision, the Highland Park City Council in Illinois voted unanimously, by a 7-0 margin, earlier in the week to formally enshrine the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism into municipal law. Highland Park, a suburban community situated 25 miles north of Chicago and home to a large and vibrant Jewish population, has made history as the first city in Illinois to adopt the IHRA definition not just in the form of a resolution — as other municipalities have done — but as a binding ordinance. This elevates its status from symbolic support to enforceable law, ensuring that it will have tangible, long-term impact.

STANDWITHUS “Guide to Understanding & Adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism”