70 Democrats and 21 Republicans vote against bill that expands the definition ... trends now
Despite opposition from 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans, the House passed a bill to police antisemitism on college campuses on Wednesday.
The vote tally was 320-91.
Supporters say it is needed to clamp down on such incidents amid a sea of anti-Israel protests at universities while opponents say it could 'chill' free speech.
The bill would require the Education Department to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws by using the definition of antisemitism defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
Rep. Jerry Nadler a Jewish Democrat from New York, warned that the bill 'threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech.'
Rep. Jerry Nadler a Jewish Democrat from New York, warned that the bill 'threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech'
Lawler, above, shot back: 'You have Democrats like Jerry Nadler saying, Well, I'm against this. Meanwhile, he was a co sponsor on a bill that literally did the same exact thing that this bill is going to do just several congresses ago. So that should tell you how far the Democratic Party has shifted when it comes to combating antisemitism'
'Speech that is critical of Israel alone does not constitute unlawful discrimination,' he went on during a Rules Committee hearing. 'The bill sweeps too broadly.'
Nadler has supported a bill that codified multiple definitions of antisemitism in past congressional terms. 'I was mistaken to do so,' he said.
The definition the IHRA lists for antisemitism is: 'a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.'
The Alliance further describes antisemitism:
Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for 'why things go wrong.' It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.
ro-Palestinian protesters gather outside Fordham's Lincoln Center campus after a group created an encampment inside the building on May 01, 2024 in New York City
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside Fordham's Lincoln Center campus after a group created an encampment inside the building
Police in anti-riot gear file in to a Columbia University building that pro-Palestine student protesters had taken over. They arrested around 300
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced the legislation along with a number of other Jewish members: Reps. Max Miller, R-Ohio, Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.
But the bill has brought together a political horseshoe of right-wing and leftist free speech advocates.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who also voted to advance the bill out of committee, questioned why it incorporated 'international law into a statute.'
'We are certainly conceptually in favor of trying to push back on all of the ridiculousness in the world, but legislating is serious business,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I just think whenever you start getting into legislating 'hate' my antennas go up.'
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted to advance the
