The United States House of Representatives approved this Wednesday a bill against anti-Semitism in the face of the rise of pro-Palestinian protests on the country’s university campuses during the last two weeks and which have already left more than a thousand arrests.
This project, if approved in the Senate, will force the Department of Education to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws and to use a definition of anti-Semitism proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, as published by the American television network CNN.
The vote has ended with 320 votes in favor and 91 against —among these are 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans, who have a majority in this chamber—; Among the bill’s detractors, there are claims that the law could give rise to censorship problems.
In fact, New York Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler has acknowledged the problem of anti-Semitism while criticizing this legislation for being “too broad”.
“There is no excuse for bigotry, threats or violence directed against anyone, anywhere, and it is imperative that we confront the plague of anti-Semitism, and Congress can help, but this legislation is not the answer. Speech critical of Israel alone does not constitute illegal discrimination. “The bill is too broad,” he assured during his speech.
In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has asked legislators to oppose the project, considering it unnecessary because Federal laws already prohibit anti-Semitic discrimination and harassmentand that could restrict freedom of expression in universities.
The White Housefor its part, has shown its full support to the legislation, highlighting that it is an effort by US President Joe Biden to create the “first National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism.”
In fact, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre has highlighted that Biden is the president who has spoken “most firmly” against anti-Semitism.
Finally, he highlighted that the Biden Administration has carried out more than a hundred “new actions” against this type of anti-Semitic speech.
The approval of this project comes at a time when Columbia University has become the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests in the United States, which have spread to numerous universities throughout the country with actions such as camping on campuses and even entrenching themselves in buildings.
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