House passes antisemitism bill over complaints from First Amendment advocates

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House passes antisemitism bill over complaints from First Amendment advocates​

If it does become law, the federal definition of antisemitism, adopted from the international Hollocaust Remebrance Alliance, would include such speech as “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor”; “applying double standards” to Israel that are “not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”; and “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.” The idea is that student-held signs, for example, like those displayed at Columbia University in New York this week, calling for “revolution” or “intifada” — which means “uprising” — would amount to antisemitism under the law. The Education Department, in turn, could then revoke federal research grants and other funding to a university that fails to take punitive action toward students who express such views, the bill’s proponents say.

Critics argue the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which gained overwhelming GOP and Democratic support, is an effort to silence criticism of Israel

^^For reelzs...DISCUSS?^^

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House passes bill aimed to combat antisemitism amid college unrest​

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday aimed at addressing reports of rising antisemitism on college campuses, where activists angered by Israel's war against Hamas have been protesting for months and more recently set up encampments on campus grounds. The Antisemitism Awareness Act would see the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism for the enforcement of federal anti-discrimination laws regarding education programs. The bill passed with a 320-91 vote. Seventy Democrats and 21 Republicans voted against the measure. The international group defines antisemitism as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews" and gives examples of the definition's application, which includes "accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagine wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group" and making " dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective."

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Bill to Combat Antisemitism on Campuses Prompts Backlash From the Right​

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, said the legislation could make it illegal to assert that Jews killed Jesus, punishing Christians for “believing the Gospel.”

A bipartisan push in Congress to enact a law cracking down on antisemitic speech on college campuses has prompted a backlash from far-right lawmakers and activists, who argue it could outlaw Christian biblical teachings. The House passed the legislation, called the Antisemitism Awareness Act, overwhelmingly on Wednesday, and Senate leaders in both parties were working behind the scenes on Thursday to determine whether it would have enough backing to come to a vote in that chamber.

A bipartisan push in Congress to enact a law cracking down on antisemitic speech on college campuses has prompted a backlash from far-right lawmakers and activists, who argue it could outlaw Christian biblical teachings. The House passed the legislation, called the Antisemitism Awareness Act, overwhelmingly on Wednesday, and Senate leaders in both parties were working behind the scenes on Thursday to determine whether it would have enough backing to come to a vote in that chamber.

House Republicans rolled the bill out this week as part of their efforts to condemn the pro-Palestinian protest that have surgednat university campuses across the country, and to put a political squeeze on Democrats, who they have accused of tolerating antisemitism to please their liberal base. But in trying to use the issue as a political cudgel against the left, Republicans also called attention to a rift on the right. Some G.O.P. members said they firmly believe that Jews killed Jesus Christ, and argued that the bill — which includes such claims in its definition of antisemitism — would outlaw parts of the Bible.

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If Congress is going to pass a bill on antisemitism law, then that should mean white people should stop being RACIST towards BLACK-AMERICANS...It wasn't Jews, It was former AFRICANS and who made The USA great...Jews were European slaves, who Adolf Hitler tried to exterminate like cock roaches, bed bugs and mice...European were smarter than those blue-eyed Germans, they needed BLACK people to help them build the new land...America, "The home of the brave" and "The land of the free" they supposedly founded.

AND ANOTHER THANG............................

 

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Bill to Combat Antisemitism on Campuses Prompts Backlash From the Right​

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, said the legislation could make it illegal to assert that Jews killed Jesus, punishing Christians for “believing the Gospel.”

A bipartisan push in Congress to enact a law cracking down on antisemitic speech on college campuses has prompted a backlash from far-right lawmakers and activists, who argue it could outlaw Christian biblical teachings. The House passed the legislation, called the Antisemitism Awareness Act, overwhelmingly on Wednesday, and Senate leaders in both parties were working behind the scenes on Thursday to determine whether it would have enough backing to come to a vote in that chamber. But in trying to use the issue as a political cudgel against the left, Republicans also called attention to a rift on the right. Some G.O.P. members said they firmly believe that Jews killed Jesus Christ, and argued that the bill — which includes such claims in its definition of antisemitism — would outlaw parts of the Bible. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, said she opposed the bill because it “could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.”

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KS Sen. Roger Marshall says antisemitism bill goes too far, violates Christian scripture

Sen. Roger Marshall on Thursday claimed a Congressional push to combat antisemitism violates Christian scripture. A bill that overwhelmingly passed the House by a 320-91 vote Wednesday evening, would require the Department of Education’s division of civil right to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism when investigating discrimination claims on campuses that receive federal funding. That definition cites “claims of Jews killing Jesus” as an example of “classic antisemitism,” which sparked opposition from some conservative Republicans. “Religious leaders back home are very concerned about some of the language in that bill, that it pushes against what the scripture said,” Marshall said. “Obviously as a born again Christian I believe that the Holy Bible is the word of God. I think that we’re not supposed to alter the word. So I’m just guessing the House overlooked something.” Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said Thursday that he opposes antisemitism, but if the bill comes up for a vote in the Senate he would offer an amendment that would strike the language. The notion that Jewish people were responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion has been a source of tension between Jews and Christians for centuries, but has been rejected by historians. The Catholic Church disavowed the belief in 1965 and Pope Benedict XVI declared in 2011 that there was no scriptural evidence to back of the claim.

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Free speech advocates decry anti-Semitism bill​

Amid more than 2,400 arrests during pro-Palestinian protests on 46 campuses in the last few weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act on Wednesday. But while some legal experts commend the new law, saying it guards against discriminatory actions, others worry it stifles constitutionally protected free speech. The act directs the Department of Education to define anti-Semitism under the guidelines of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The IHRA lists anti-Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said that the definition is overbroad and vague. He also points out that the IHRA definition goes on to give several examples of anti-Semitism including one of someone criticizing Israel’s government—something that many students are doing in their protests. This equates criticism of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism, he said, adding that criticizing another country’s government is protected speech and prohibiting criticisms against just one country is viewpoint discrimination.

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NC House votes overwhelmingly to approve bill defining antisemitism​

State house lawmakers voted almost unanimously Wednesday afternoon on a bill that would add a broad definition of antisemitism to state law. It now goes to the state Senate for further debate and a potential vote there.

North Carolina lawmakers voted Wednesday to approve a bill that would add a broad definition of antisemitism to state law — a move that comes amid the backdrop of war in the Middle East and protests on college campuses, including at the UNC-Chapel Hill. The bill, called the Shalom Act by sponsors, would use a definition created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which some say is too broad and could limit the right to free speech. It now goes to the state Senate for further debate and a potential vote there.

The bill doesn’t increase penalties for antisemitism or antisemitic speech. Instead, the change would add a broad new definition of antisemitism to state law that could inform other statutes that concern crimes around ethnic intimidation and or involve ethnic animosity. But, critics warn, the definition could be interpreted to limit criticism of the Israeli government. That’s a divisive issue even within the Jewish community.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor in November’s election, said Wednesday that he supports the bill, writing in a statement that the “framework will enhance awareness, educate individuals, and equip them with the necessary tools to identify and counter antisemitic hate crimes and discrimination.” Past statements from Robinson would fit the definition of antisemitism outlined in the bill. In social media posts, for instance, he has promoted conspiracy theories about Jewish control over finance and Hollywood.

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The Antisemitism Awareness Act: What to know​

By 320-91 vote, the U.S. House on May 1 passed the Antisemitis Awareness Act. The bill came to a vote amid pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses against the Isreal-Hamas war that some Jewish students said they found threatening. It produced an unusual lineup of supporters and detractors. Although the legislation passed easily and with bipartisan support, the votes against it were also bipartisan: 21 Republicans and 70 Democrats voted no. Some Republicans who voted no cited possible threats to Christian beliefs; some Democrats said the measure would chill political speech critical of Israel’s government, rather than Jews as a group.

What does the bill say?

The bill requires the federal Education Department to use the definition of antisemitism outlined by the Stockholm-based international Holocaust Remembrance Alliance when addressing allegations of discrimination in higher education. If discrimination is determined to have occurred, schools would be at risk of losing federal funding. Currently, there is no standard definition for antisemitism in such discrimination cases.

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