Matt Gaetz blasts House antisemitism legislation as ‘ridiculous hate speech bill’

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., railed against the House’s antisemitism authorities connected Wednesday, blasting it arsenic a "ridiculous hatred code bill" earlier the authorities was yet passed. 

The Antisemitism Awareness Act aims to ace down connected antisemitism connected assemblage campuses and would grow the ineligible explanation of antisemitism utilized to enforce anti-discrimination laws. The measure comes astatine a clip erstwhile anti-Israel protests are raging at college campuses across the country.

It was passed overwhelmingly by a 320-91 vote successful the House, but that’s not earlier critics similar Gaetz came retired against its passage, saying connected societal media that immoderate excerpts of the Bible would conscionable this bill’s explanation of antisemitism.

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Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, railed against the House’s antisemitism authorities connected Wednesday, blasting it arsenic a "ridiculous hatred code bill" earlier the measure was yet passed. (Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"This evening, I volition ballot AGAINST the ridiculous hatred code measure called the ‘Antisemitism Awareness Act,'" Gaetz wrote on X.

"Antisemitism is wrong, but this authorities is written without respect for the Constitution, communal sense, oregon adjacent the communal knowing of the meaning of words. The Gospel itself would conscionable the explanation of antisemitism nether the presumption of this bill!" 

If passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden, the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act would mandate that the Department of Education legally follow the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination rules.

Gaetz provided an illustration of 1 of IHRA’s definitions of antisemitism, which includes "claims of Jews sidesplitting Jesus," claiming that the Bible would autumn nether the definition.

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A protester astatine NYU spit connected a motion that said "Jewish" earlier adorning it implicit the connection "White." The last motion said "Pure Evil" and "Jewish Supremacy." The measure comes astatine a clip erstwhile anti-Israel protests are raging at college campuses across the country. (Obtained by Fox News)

"The Bible is clear. There is nary story oregon contention connected this. Therefore, I volition not enactment this bill," helium wrote.

The IHRA defines antisemitism connected its website as: "a definite cognition of Jews, which whitethorn beryllium expressed arsenic hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and carnal manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish oregon non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish assemblage institutions and spiritual facilities."

Later connected Wednesday, Gaetz doubled down connected his absorption to the bill.

"I privation to Abolish the Department of Education. Not empower them arsenic the "Antisemitism police," Gaetz wrote. "Turning the DOE into the Antisemitism constabulary would beryllium a profoundly unfortunate triumph for Antisemitism, actually."

Critics of the measure attacked it arsenic authorities overreach and said it would negatively impact free speech on campus.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish progressive who is the apical Democrat connected the House Judiciary Committee, besides opposed the legislation.

"This definition, adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance oregon IHRA, includes, quote, modern examples of antisemitism, adjacent quote. The occupation is that these examples whitethorn see protected code successful immoderate context, peculiarly with respect to disapproval of the authorities of Israel," Nadler said during statement connected the bill. 

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Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish progressive who is the apical Democrat connected the House Judiciary Committee, besides opposed the legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"To beryllium clear, I vehemently disagree with the sentiments toward Israel expressing those examples. And, excessively often, disapproval of Israel does successful information instrumentality the signifier of virulent antisemitism."

The measure had implicit a twelve Democratic backers, including Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who are Jewish, and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., among others.

Seventy Democrats voted against the bill, portion 133 voted against it. On the Republican side, conscionable 21 voted against the bill, with 187 GOP lawmakers successful support.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who led the bill, told Fox News Digital, "When radical prosecute successful harassment oregon bullying of Jewish individuals wherever they warrant the sidesplitting of Jews oregon usage humor libel oregon clasp Jews collectively liable for the actions of the Israeli authorities — that is antisemitic. It's unfortunate that needs to beryllium clarified, but that's wherefore this measure is necessary."

Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.