State lawmaker receives antisemitic letter as governor signs law to combat such acts

ATLANTA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into an antisemitic letter sent to Georgia’s only Jewish lawmaker.

The investigation is happening on the same day Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill making antisemitism part of the state’s hate crime law.

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Sandy Springs Democrat Esther Panitch was front and center to watch the bill signing as law enforcement investigates the antisemitic letter sent to her house.

The content is so hateful, we can’t mention what it said.

“I turned it over to law enforcement,” Panitch said.

She said letters like these, and other antisemitic acts are why she pushed so hard to get this bill passed.

“I’m hoping it’s a last-gasp desperate attempt to get that in, the last vestiges of antisemitism to the one Jewish lawmaker before the bill take effect,” Panitch said.

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Marietta Republican lawmaker John Carson authored the original bill and has worked for almost three years to get it passed.

He was shocked to learn of the hate-filled letter to Panitch.

“Absurd,” Carson said. “I just feel for Esther and her community. That’s why we fought for this bill in the first place,” Carson said.

The bill passed the General Assembly with mostly bi-partisan support.

Kemp said he was honored to sign it into law, a law that goes into effect immediately.

“There is no place for hate in this great state,” Kemp said.

The law defines antisemitism in Georgia code, so if investigators determine one of a list of crimes was motivated by antisemitism, prosecutors can prosecute under Georgia’s hate crime law.

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After 2 years, antisemitism bill passes in General Assembly and heads to governor’s desk The lawmakers who worked for more than two years to get it passed were grateful when it did.

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