Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., lashed out at the House anti-Semitism legislation on Wednesday, calling it a “ridiculous hate speech bill” before the legislation was finally passed.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act aims to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses and would expand the legal definition of antisemitism used to enforce anti-discrimination laws. The bill comes at a time when anti-Israel protests are sweeping college campuses across the country.
It passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 320 to 91 in the House, but it was not before critics like Gaetz spoke out against its passage, saying on social media that some Bible excerpts would meet this definition of anti-Semitism. bill.
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Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., criticized the House anti-Semitism legislation on Wednesday, calling it a “ridiculous hate speech bill” before it was finally passed. (Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Tonight I will be voting AGAINST the ridiculous hate speech bill called the ‘Anti-Semitism Awareness Act,'” Gaetz wrote on X.
“Anti-Semitism is wrong, but this legislation is written without regard to the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of the words. The Gospel itself would meet the definition of anti-Semitism under the terms of this bill! !”
If passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden, the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the Department of Education to legally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Act. definition of antisemitism when applying anti-discrimination rules.
Gaetz provided an example of one of the IHRA’s definitions of anti-Semitism, which includes “claims that Jews killed Jesus,” stating that the Bible would fall within the definition.
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A protester at New York University spit on a sign that said “Jew” before emblazoning it with the word “white.” The final sign read “Pure Evil” and “Jewish Supremacy.” The bill comes at a time when anti-Israel protests are sweeping college campuses across the country. (Obtained by Fox News)
“The Bible is clear. There is no myth or controversy about it. Therefore, I will not support this bill,” he wrote.
The IHRA defines anti-Semitism on its website as: “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards the institutions of the Jewish community and religious facilities.”
Later Wednesday, Gaetz doubled down on his opposition to the bill.
“I want to abolish the Department of Education. Not empower them as the ‘anti-Semitism police,'” Gaetz wrote. “Turning the DOE into the anti-Semitism police would actually be a deeply unfortunate victory for anti-Semitism.”
Critics of the bill attacked it as government overreach and said it would negatively impact free speech on campus.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish progressive who is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, also opposed the legislation.
“This definition, adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance or IHRA, includes, quote, contemporary examples of anti-Semitism, quote. The problem is that these examples may include protected speech in some context, particularly with respect to criticism of the State of Israel. “Nadler said during debate on the bill.
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Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish progressive who is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, also opposed the legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“To be clear, I strongly disagree with the sentiments toward Israel expressed in those examples. And all too often, criticism of Israel actually takes the form of virulent anti-Semitism.”
The bill had more than a dozen Democratic supporters, including Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who are Jewish, and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., among others.
Seventy Democrats voted against the bill, while 133 voted against it. On the Republican side, only 21 voted against the bill, with 187 Republican lawmakers in favor.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R.N.Y., who spearheaded the bill, told Fox News Digital: “When people engage in harassment or intimidation of Jewish individuals where they justify the murder of Jews or use blood libel or hold collective responsibility to the Jews for the actions of the Israeli government, that is anti-Semitic. It is unfortunate that it needs to be clarified, but that is why this bill is necessary.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
