70 Democrats and 21 Republicans vote against bill that expands the definition of anti-Semitism on college campuses as anti-Israel protesters cause carnage

Despite opposition from 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans, the House passed a bill to police anti-Semitism on college campuses on Wednesday. 

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 that passed 320-91 would require the Education Department to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws by using the definition of anti-Semitism 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 anti-Semitism 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.'

It goes on: '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.' 

Examples of antisemitism by IHRA

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 bill out of the Rules Committee but expressed skepticism of it. 

'The bill has a problem beyond violating the 1st [Amendment],' he wrote on X along with a screen grab of all the examples of antisemitism that would be included under the IHRA definition.

'Should people in America be prosecuted for saying these things in all contexts? I think not. This is a poorly conceived unconstitutional bill and I will vote no.' 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she would vote against the bill because it 'could convict Christians of anti-Semitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.' 

One of the examples of anti-Semitism listed by the IHRA is 'using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.' 

Democratic Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came to support the bill even though he had urged Johnson to take up a different one that would have allowed the White House broader authority over an antisemitism task force.  

'We should be doing everything possible in a serious and sensible way to combat antisemitism, to crush antisemitism to bury it in the ground and make sure that it can never rise again,' he told DailyMail.com. 

Columbia University was forced to call the NYPD for the second time in a week on students who took over a building on campus, arresting some 300 students and clearing them out.  

Meanwhile Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., accused said the bill led by Lawler is 'doing real harm to the issue of antisemitism, which I feel very strongly about.' 

Jayapal claimed the bill has a definition that is so broad' that many Jewish groups do not support it.

'So why would you do that? Except if you want to weaponize antisemitism, and you want to use it as a political ploy,' she said. 'Let's remember that many of these Republicans didn't say a word when Donald Trump and others in Charlottesville other places were saying truly antisemitic things.'

A number of free speech groups put heat on members to vote against the bill. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called on members to oppose the bill: 'Federal law already prohibits antisemitic discrimination and harassment by federally funded entities. H.R. 6090 is therefore not needed to protect against antisemitic discrimination; instead, it would likely chill free speech of students on college campuses by incorrectly equating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism.'

'Today, Congress will vote on legislation that will stifle free speech on campus and unconstitutionally restrict expression protected by the First Amendment,' FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, wrote on X.  

Lawler said it was 'incumbent upon Congress to act' because 'these school administrators have allowed rabid anti semitism to creep up' and President Joe Biden 'has no ability to show up at Columbia and speak out against it.'

'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.'