MAGA conservatives voiced outrage at Congressional Republicans voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act over concerns it would make the Bible illegal.
Congress on Wednesday passed the bill, which would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws. It comes as colleges across the United States have seen pro-Palestinian protests that critics say at times have allegedly veered into antisemitism.
"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities," the definition reads.
The bill drew bipartisan criticism, with both Democrats and Republicans voting against it. Critics argue the bill, if signed into law, stifles free speech that is protected by the U.S. Constitution and is overly broad in its definition of antisemitism, pointing to the definition including "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor."
Ultimately, 91 members of Congress voted against it.
Some conservatives are taking issue with the bill over the IHRA definition of antisemitism including "claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel," arguing that it could mean that parts of the Bible would now become "illegal."
While the definition in the bill does classify the idea that Jewish people were involved in killing Jesus as antisemitic, it does not make the Bible illegal.
The bill's text states that it would require the Education Department to "take into consideration the definition of antisemitism as part of the Department's assessment of whether the practice was motivated by antisemitic intent" when investigating allegedly antisemitic discrimination at colleges.
Newsweek reached out to the office of House Speaker Mike Johnson for comment via email.
Concerns about the bill making the Bible illegal were shared by high-profile conservatives.
"Did the House of Representatives just make parts of the Bible illegal?" posted conservative commentator Charlie Kirk to X, formerly Twitter.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted, "Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews."
"Congress votes to make the Bible illegal hate speech. I guess I'll see you all in jail!" wrote Lauren Witzke, a former Republican Senate candidate in Delaware.
"If you support this "antisemitism" hate speech bill not only are you spitting on the first amendment you are openly denying the Bible as well," wrote Blaze TV host Lauren Chen.
The idea that Jewish people were responsible for Jesus' death has been rejected by some Christians, including the late Pope Benedict XVI. In 2011, he wrote a book exonerating Jewish people of these claims, concluding that his accusers were only Temple authorities, not all Jewish people at the time.
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Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more
