The Republican-led House of Representatives has intervened in Joe Biden’s campus crisis by passing hate speech legislation defining anti-Semitism in incredibly broad terms and using that broad definition “for the enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws concerning education programs or activities, and for other purposes.”
H. R. 6090, to be cited as the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 if it becomes law, uses the “working definition of antisemitism” adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016. This is extremely broad in scope, and includes “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor,” “Applying double standards” to Israel, and “Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.”
The bill, which passed by 320 votes to 91, with 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans voting against it, has raised concerns among America First conservatives, who fear it violates the First Amendment and will draw fire away from Joe Biden. Until now, Biden has borne the brunt of campus protestors’ ire, damaging his standing among Muslim and younger voters key to his prospects in swing states like Michigan.
“It is patently insane for House Republicans to insert themselves into the mayhem engulfing college campuses. Do not interrupt your enemies when they’re making a mistake!” said Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, echoing arguments first advanced by National Pulse editor-in-chief Raheem Kassam.
“Instead of passing anti-free speech laws that trample on the First Amendment or inserting themselves behind a podium at Columbia, just allow the left to continue embarrassing itself,” he argued.
SCRIPTURE OUTLAWED?
H. R. 6090 also defines “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis” as anti-Semitic.
This has raised concerns among Kirk and other Christian conservatives as to whether H. R. 6090 could “make parts of the Bible illegal.” The Bible records that the Romans put Jesus Christ to death, but at the request of Jewish chief priests and elders, who delivered Jesus to the Roman authorities.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, sought repeatedly to release Jesus, but the priests insisted “by our law he ought to die,” and Jesus told the Roman that “he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
It is patently insane for House Republicans to insert themselves into the mayhem engulfing college campuses. Do not interrupt your enemies when they're making a mistake!
Instead of passing anti-free speech laws that trample on the First Amendment or inserting themselves behind a… https://t.co/jjM9pclxle
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 2, 2024
