Strongly Condemning and Denouncing the Drastic Rise of Antisemitism in the United States and Around the World
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 894) strongly condemning and denouncing the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 894
Whereas acts of hate, intimidation, discrimination, and violence based on ethnicity or religion have no place in our country nor in the global community;
Whereas the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism is widely accepted and serves as a critical tool to help individuals comprehend and identify the various manifestations of antisemitism;
Whereas, since the massacre of innocent Israelis by Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organization, on October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents of harassment, vandalism, and assault in the United States have spiked 388 percent over the same period last year, according to reports from the Anti- Defamation League's (ADL) Center on Extremism;
Whereas drastic increases in antisemitic activity has also been seen in Jewish communities around the world since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks;
Whereas the slogan ``From the River to the Sea'', which is a rallying cry for the eradication of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, has been used by anti-Israel protesters in the United States and globally;
Whereas, on October 8, 2023, a car with individuals holding Palestinian flags appeared to intentionally swerve out of its lane, nearly hitting a visibly Jewish family in Clifton, New Jersey;
Whereas, on October 15, 2023, an individual in New York, New York, punched a Jewish woman in the face at Grand Central Terminal solely because she was Jewish;
Whereas, on October 28, 2023, a Jewish man in Sydney, Australia, was severely injured by 3 anti-Israel rioters, in which he was punched in the head at least 12 times, suffered a concussion, 2 black eyes, and 4 spinal fractures;
Whereas, on November 3, 2023, a Jewish woman's store in New York City was attacked by a mob of anti-Israel protesters all because she hung posters of Israeli hostages in the store window;
Whereas, on November 3, 2023, 4 masked men walked into a restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and proceeded to tear down an Israeli flag and yelled ``Free Palestine'';
Whereas, on November 4, 2023, an Arizona man was arrested by Federal authorities for threatening to execute a local Rabbi and ``every other JEW I can find tonight at midnight of your Sabbath'';
Whereas, on November 4, 2023, during an anti-Israel protest in Washington, DC, rioters shouted their support for Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, and other acts of terror targeting Israel, called for the end of the State of Israel, and spewed hateful and vile language amplifying antisemitic themes;
Whereas, during that same protest in Washington, DC, rioters stormed and tried to scale the White House fence, vandalized property by staining blood-red handprints onto the side of the White House pillars, and spray painted ``Death to Israel'' and ``Glory to our Martyrs'' on buildings in DC;
Whereas, on November 6, 2023, Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man, tragically died due to injuries sustained when an anti-Israel protester struck him in the head with a megaphone in Los Angeles, California;
Whereas, on November 11, 2023, as part of a massive anti- Israel protest, rioters set off smokebombs in front of a synagogue in London, England;
Whereas, on November 12, 2023, police found several headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn, Ohio, were desecrated with swastikas;
Whereas, on November 13, 2023, a mezuzah was torn off the doorpost of a Jewish person's apartment and a knife was stuck into the wood in its place in Milan, Italy;
Whereas, on November 13, 2023, the evening before the March for Israel in Washington, DC, anti-Israel rioters vandalized a Jewish medical tent by spray painting ``Free Gaza'', ``Palestine Will Be Free'', and ``Gaza Will Win''; and
Whereas, on November 15, 2023, anti-Israel protesters illegally blocked and violently attacked the Democratic National Committee headquarters, endangering the lives of individuals inside, including Members of Congress, and injuring 6 Capitol Police Officers; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) strongly condemns and denounces all instances of antisemitism occurring in the United States and globally;
(2) reaffirms and reiterates its strong support for the Jewish community at home and abroad;
(3) calls on elected officials and world leaders to condemn and fight all forms of domestic and global antisemitism;
(4) clearly and firmly states that anti-Zionism is antisemitism; and
(5) rejects all forms of terror, hate, discrimination, and harassment of members of the Jewish community.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KILEY. Res. 894.
Mr. Speaker, since the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, anti-Semitism has surged in the United States and around the world.
Reports show that there was a nearly 400 percent increase in anti- Semitic incidents in the weeks after the attack. These incidents include harassment, vandalism, and assault. Americans have been punched, beaten, and forced to flee for their lives from swerving cars simply because they are Jewish.
A Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn, Ohio, was vandalized with swastikas.
On college campuses, Jewish students have been subjected to harassment, threats, and forced to hide from violent protests.
In a recent survey, 73 percent of Jewish college students said they had experienced or witnessed some form of anti-Semitism this academic year.
In the same survey, just 39 percent of Jewish students said they felt comfortable with their peers knowing they were Jewish.
Less than half of Jewish students surveyed said that they felt safe on campus.
At a hearing before our committee last month, a college student testified that she now thinks twice before wearing any sign of her Jewish faith. This was a young woman who is maybe 20 years old. She had the courage to come and testify before Congress, but she can't safely wear something that would suggest to her fellow students and her teachers that she is Jewish.
She testified that her family and friends who live in Israel--people who are under nearly constant rocket attack from Hamas--and others check in with her every day to see if she is safe. They are in a war zone. She is in the United States, and they are checking to make sure that she is safe.
These incidents are absolutely horrifying, Mr. Speaker. They are unacceptable in the United States and in any civilized society. Members of the Jewish community should not have to hide their faith in order to safely go about their lives or receive an education.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, November 30, 2023. Hon. Jim Jordan, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Jordan: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee, which agrees to be discharged from further consideration of H. Res. 894 (Strongly condemning and denouncing the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world), so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I ask that you place our letters on this resolution into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, December 1, 2023. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the Committee on the Judiciary and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H. Res. 894, Strongly condemning and denouncing the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future.
I will include the exchange of these letters in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this measure. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together on matters of shared jurisdiction during this Congress. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Jim Jordan, Chairman.
I say briefly that I very much do applaud the gentleman from New York, who I think has shown tremendous leadership in many ways in standing up for Israel and fighting against anti-Semitism in this country.
I think one of the valuable things that we have seen over the last several weeks is that we have had bipartisan support on both counts. I actually sponsored a separate resolution dealing specifically with the problem of anti-Semitism on college campuses, and that got overwhelming bipartisan support on this floor. I think it had only about 21 ``no'' votes. That has been very encouraging.
With respect to the three charges that were mentioned, number one, there is legislation in the House right now to codify the President's executive order, on which I think it is important that we move forward.
Number two, far from saying we shouldn't have an Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education, Representative Burgess Owens and I wrote a letter to the head of the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education telling them they need to be doing more, they need to be more proactive in looking into anti-Semitic incidents at our universities, and we would certainly welcome their support on that letter.
Number three, as far as the protection for synagogues and other facilities, I would be very interested in partnering with you on any such efforts.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source