Gaetz dubs House antisemitism bill a ‘ridiculous hate speech bill’  

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) called the House anti-Semitism bill a “ridiculous hate speech bill” ahead of Wednesday’s vote.

As pro-Palestinian protests continue at American universities across the country, the House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at cracking down on anti-Semitism on college campuses. Gaetz announced his opposition to the bill before the vote, saying that some excerpts from the Bible fall within the bill’s definition of anti-Semitism.

“Tonight, I am voting against this ridiculous hate speech bill called the ‘Anti-Semitism Awareness Act,'” he wrote. on social media platforms X.

“Anti-Semitism is wrong, but this law was written in disregard of the Constitution, common sense, and even a common understanding of the meaning of the word. The Gospel itself defines anti-Semitism under the provisions of this bill. “It will be fulfilled!” he continued.

If passed, the bill would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws.

Gates said one example of the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism includes “claims that Jews murdered Jesus.”he then pointed out the excerpt He quoted from the Bible to support his argument, suggesting that religious texts fall under that definition.

“The Bible is clear. There are no myths or controversies about this. Therefore, I do not support this bill,” he added of X.

The IHRA defines antisemitism as “certain perceptions of Jews that are sometimes expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and that “rhetorical and physical expressions of antisemitism are directed against the persons and/or their property, the Jewish community organization, and the Jewish people.” It is a religious facility. ”

The bill would also address examples of modern anti-Semitism identified by the IHRA, including “symbols and messages associated with classical anti-Semitism (such as This includes the use of “allegations such as the murder of Jesus and blood libel)”.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) made a similar argument Wednesday about the bill, saying it would define anti-Semitic behavior as including comments by Jews about killing Jesus. He said he was against it. said the Georgia Republican. in a social media post The bill “could make Christians guilty of anti-Semitism if they believed the gospel that Jesus was handed over to Herod by the Jews to be crucified.”

Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) appeared jointly on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” on Wednesday to talk about Greene and her colleagues who opposed the bill. Blame the reason.

Both lawmakers who introduced the bill last year said it would not make it illegal to believe the gospel. The bill passed the House on a 320-91 vote Wednesday and was sent to the Senate for consideration.