Legislature removes anti-Jew "shylock" from state law

By at 16 April, 2009, 8:57 pm

The Florida Legislature voted to scrub the term “shylock” from state law – an arcane phrase from the Shakespeare era that legislators said reinforces negative stereotypes against Jews. The term dates back to the character Shylock in William Shakespeare’s 16th Century play, Merchant of Venice, who demands a pound of flesh as repayment from a debtor. It has been in the state’s usury laws since 1969, referring to penalties for loan sharks. The Anti-Defamation League in Boca Raton said the term “perpetuates the stereotypes of the evil Jew as powerful, cunning, money-hungry and inhuman.” “The use the shylock or

shylocking in the context of a usury statute is particularly offensive and hurtful to Florida’s Jewish community,” the Anti-Defamation League wrote to legislators. Led by a pair of Broward County Democrats, the House voted 117-0 to remove the term Thursday night, following unanimous approval from the Senate earlier in the Legislature’s 60-day lawmaking session. The sponsors were Sen. Eleanor Sobel and Rep. Elaine Schwartz, both of Hollywood. For “shylock” to be officially removed from state law, only one hurdle remains: getting Gov. Charlie Crist’s signature.

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Legislature removes anti-Jew "shylock" from state law

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