Statement on HB 327 Sponsor Remarks
About the Holocaust
March 23, 2022 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honesty for Ohio Education Responds to HB 327 Sponsor’s Alarming and Ill-Informed Remarks About
the Holocaust and Dog Whistles to Nazi Sympathizers. Calls for House to Stop HB 327.
COLUMBUS — Honesty for Ohio Education released this statement in response to Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur’s misrepresentation of the Holocaust and the elected leader’s unwillingness to clarify her remarks.
Recent remarks made by Ohio Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, a primary sponsor of House Bill 327, misrepresent and radically minimize the horrors of the Holocaust. While attempting to defend the bill, Rep. Fowler Arthur's comments continue to demonstrate that HB 327 is designed to erase documented history, spread misinformation, and perpetuate hate. The sponsor’s comments, and similar remarks from lawmakers in other states, underscore a deep-seated attempt to use dishonest education to foment antisemitism, racism, sexism, and transphobia.
We condemn Rep. Fowler Arthur and all elected persons who intentionally misrepresent the full understanding of the Holocaust and refuse to apologize openly for the ensuing harm from failing to do so. Not only did Rep. Fowler Arthur downplay the millions, not “hundreds of thousands”, of lives that were taken during the reign and terror of Nazi Germany, she purposefully avoided multiple opportunities to correct and clarify her remarks. We are deeply disturbed that any elected official would shirk their civic responsibility to lead with honest and factual information, and fail to be accountable for their errors.
Disturbingly, Rep. Fowler Arthur’s use of terms like “displacement”, “incorporation into the war”, “German soldier”, and avoidance of “Nazi” to describe the state-sanctioned murder and torture of at least six million Jewish people, Black people, Romani people, LGBTQ+ communities, and other victims, are clear and intentional efforts to sanitize genocide and send a loud dog whistle to hate groups and Nazi sympathizers in Ohio.
At a time when our students witness the murder of Ukrainians, and the further oppression of Ukrainian minorities, Ohio elected leaders must exemplify ways to counter authoritarian regimes that wield misinformation, fear, and division as their assault weapons. Instead, some Ohio legislators take pages from their playbook. Ohioans must underscore the truth and demand honest historical accounts, not distortions.
Our state deserves brave, honest leaders, and our students need the truth to grow, mature, and become responsible citizens. We demand that Rep. Fowler Arthur clarify her inaccurate statements about the Holocaust and account for this willful misrepresentation of history.
The coalition calls on all members of the House State and Local Government Committee to stop HB 327, and put Ohio education and students first.
Recent remarks made by Ohio Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, a primary sponsor of House Bill 327, misrepresent and radically minimize the horrors of the Holocaust. While attempting to defend the bill, Rep. Fowler Arthur's comments continue to demonstrate that HB 327 is designed to erase documented history, spread misinformation, and perpetuate hate. The sponsor’s comments, and similar remarks from lawmakers in other states, underscore a deep-seated attempt to use dishonest education to foment antisemitism, racism, sexism, and transphobia.
We condemn Rep. Fowler Arthur and all elected persons who intentionally misrepresent the full understanding of the Holocaust and refuse to apologize openly for the ensuing harm from failing to do so. Not only did Rep. Fowler Arthur downplay the millions, not “hundreds of thousands”, of lives that were taken during the reign and terror of Nazi Germany, she purposefully avoided multiple opportunities to correct and clarify her remarks. We are deeply disturbed that any elected official would shirk their civic responsibility to lead with honest and factual information, and fail to be accountable for their errors.
Disturbingly, Rep. Fowler Arthur’s use of terms like “displacement”, “incorporation into the war”, “German soldier”, and avoidance of “Nazi” to describe the state-sanctioned murder and torture of at least six million Jewish people, Black people, Romani people, LGBTQ+ communities, and other victims, are clear and intentional efforts to sanitize genocide and send a loud dog whistle to hate groups and Nazi sympathizers in Ohio.
At a time when our students witness the murder of Ukrainians, and the further oppression of Ukrainian minorities, Ohio elected leaders must exemplify ways to counter authoritarian regimes that wield misinformation, fear, and division as their assault weapons. Instead, some Ohio legislators take pages from their playbook. Ohioans must underscore the truth and demand honest historical accounts, not distortions.
Our state deserves brave, honest leaders, and our students need the truth to grow, mature, and become responsible citizens. We demand that Rep. Fowler Arthur clarify her inaccurate statements about the Holocaust and account for this willful misrepresentation of history.
The coalition calls on all members of the House State and Local Government Committee to stop HB 327, and put Ohio education and students first.
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The Honesty for Ohio Education coalition represents more than 30 organizational partners and hundreds of students, educators, and individuals from around the state to advocate for every child’s right to a high-quality public education grounded in honesty, facts, and diverse perspectives, regardless of race, background or zip code.