CDM
Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler of New York, who is Jewish, rarely agree, but on Wednesday both of them voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) as demonstrations and sit-ins continue to rock U.S. college campuses over the Israeli Hamas conflict.
The bill passed the House 320-91.
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The bill would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism when applying anti-discrimination laws.
Congressman Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) led the measure with 15 Democratic co-sponsors. A coalition of Republicans and Democrats who voted against the bill said it infringes on free speech. The opposition came from 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans.
“I’m proud that my bill, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, just passed the House of Representatives 320 to 91. This bill has broad, bipartisan support and will begin the process of cracking down on the antisemitism we’ve seen run rampant on college campuses across America,” Lawler posted on X.
Nadler delivered a speech on the floor of the House calling the legislation a “threat to freedom of speech.”
“Much of this activity—whether you agree with the sentiments expressed at these protests or not—constitutes legally protected speech and expression…But, this legislation is not the answer,” stated Nadler.
The congressman called the measure “political theatrics.”
Nadler used his objection to the bill as an opportunity to strike republicans for “fiddling around with definitions,” even though it was democrats who introduced it. He also took a stab at republicans for criticizing George Soros.
“We hear nothing from our Republican colleagues when some conservatives repeat antisemitic tropes about George Soros or others,” noted Nadler.
“By contrast, this legislation threatens freedom of speech, one of our most cherished values, while doing nothing to combat antisemitism,” added Nadler.
You can read Nadler’s speech in full here.
Majorie Taylor Greene took to social media and raised the ante on the measure infringing upon Christian religious beliefs in the Bible.
“Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews,” Greene posted on X.
Congressman Matt Gaetz also voted against the bill based upon religious and constitutional grounds.
“This legislation is written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of words,” Gaetz wrote. “The Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of this bill! The bill says the definition of antisemitism includes “contemporary examples of antisemitism” identified by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). One of those examples includes: “…claims of Jews killing Jesus…” Gaetz posted on X.
The bill requires the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.
The Alliance’s website is very specific of its definition of antisemitism.
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