Why Kentucky’s Thomas Massie voted ‘no’ on an antisemitism resolution
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie voted against a resolution which seeks to redefine antisemitism federally as law enforcement officials across the country struggle to contain a burst of protests and encampments on college campuses demonstrating against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The northern Kentucky Republican claimed the text of the bill, which passed 320-91 on Wednesday, violates First Amendment freedom of speech and fails to define antisemitism.
Massie alleged someone accusing Jews of being responsible for “real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group” could be charged with antisemitism, as an example.
“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,” Massie explained.
Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey was the only other member of the Kentucky delegation to vote no. The commonwealth’s four other Republicans supported the measure.
The resolution uses the definition of antisemitism written by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which lists 11 contemporary examples on its website, including “calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews” and “making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing or stereotypical allegations about Jews.”
Violations can be prosecuted under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the House bill.
Critics argue that while putting a legal structure around antisemitism might seem laudatory, it also roots the law in the opinion of Jews affiliated with IHRA.
“Codifying a legal definition of antisemitism opens it up for being used in a dangerous way to threaten free speech for Jews and non-Jews alike,” noted Bend the Arc Jewish Action, a progressive group. “There isn’t one definition of antisemitism that we’re all going to agree with and that’s fine. ... Labeling things antisemitic on its own doesn’t make us safer.
“It can actually do the opposite and divide us.”
But urgency around curbing antisemitic behavior has skyrocketed over the last week as pro-Palestinian protests have mushroomed on college campuses.
Kentucky Rep. James Comer appeared on the campus of George Washington University on Wednesday to show solidarity with Jewish students who don’t feel safe on campus. He announced he’ll hold an emergency Oversight Committee hearing next week probing why D.C. police have refused to move the pro-Palestinian protesters.
“We have trespassing here,” Comer said. “We expect these encampments to be cleared out. ... I would strongly encourage the mayor have the police chief do their job and ensure that at the very least there’s no trespassing.
“Peaceful protests are fine. But trespassing is against the law.”
Norm Coleman, the chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said he was disappointed that Democratic leadership chose not to whip support for the legislation and “disappointed in the Republicans who voted against the bill.”
Of the “Nay” votes, 70 were Democrats while only 21 were Republicans.
Massie, who has been targeted by pro-Israel interests before, appears unbothered by the pressure.
“Policing speech, religion and assembly is not the role of the federal government. In fact, it’s expressly prohibited by the U.S. Constitution,” he said last week.
This story was originally published May 1, 2024 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Why Kentucky’s Thomas Massie voted ‘no’ on an antisemitism resolution."
