this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
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The United States House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill that would expand the federal definition of anti-Semitism, despite opposition from civil liberties groups.

The bill passed the House on Wednesday by a margin of 320 to 91, and it is largely seen as a reaction to the ongoing antiwar protests unfolding on US university campuses. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

If the bill were to become law, it would codify a definition of anti-Semitism created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism is “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”.

According to the IHRA, that definition also encompasses the “targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity”.

The group also includes certain examples in its definition to illustrate anti-Semitism. Saying, for instance, that “the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” would be deemed anti-Semitic under its terms. The definition also bars any comparison between “contemporary Israeli policy” and “that of the Nazis”.

Rights groups, however, have raised concerns the definition nevertheless conflates criticism of the state of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism.

In a letter sent to lawmakers on Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urged House members to vote against the legislation, saying federal law already prohibits anti-Semitic discrimination and harassment.

“Instead, it would likely chill free speech of students on college campuses by incorrectly equating criticism of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism.”

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[–] sweetpotato@lemmy.ml 131 points 6 months ago (2 children)

So it's ok to call students that are protesting against a genocide Nazis but not the people actually committing the genocide. Got it.

[–] Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world 20 points 6 months ago (2 children)

It's OK to call anyone not aligned with the Republican Party a Nazi, because it's important that words have no real meaning. Once words have no meaning, the ideas behind them fade as well. This is double plus ungood.

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[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 122 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If the Israelis don't want to be compared to Nazis maybe they ought to stop acting like Nazis

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 34 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It would also help if more than a handful of people in the House knew semitic is a pretty archaic term and would include Palestinians in Gaza as well as Israelis and people from several other countries as well.

Protected classes are race, religion, national origin, age, pregnancy status, gender, citizenship, disability or veteran, family status or genetic information. Nobody gets protections for genocide.

Edit: genetic not generic

[–] Pistcow@lemm.ee 118 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I mean, what do you call a person that performs ethnic genocide?

[–] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 76 points 6 months ago (2 children)

American?

😂😂😂😂😂

[–] MrVilliam@lemmy.world 25 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Hey!

Aw who am I kidding, I know my country's bloodstained history despite my public education. I wish I could say it was in our past and that we're better now, but we're literally funding this exact genocide. 🫠

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[–] Railison@aussie.zone 102 points 6 months ago (4 children)

So about that freedom of speech…

[–] zurohki@aussie.zone 59 points 6 months ago

That's double-plus ungood wrongthink, citizen. Report for re-education.

[–] exanime 15 points 6 months ago

What about it? You are still free to say exactly what the government wants you to say

[–] rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml 14 points 6 months ago

I get the feeling a lot of our more vocal free speech absolutists are going to be conspicuously quiet on this one.

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[–] Nobody@lemmy.world 82 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Adding IHRA’s definition to the law would allow the federal Department of Education to restrict funding and other resources to campuses perceived as tolerating anti-Semitism.

The campus crackdown is definitely going too far. Vietnam War protestors were treated the same way. It escalated, and the cops opened fire at Kent State.

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[–] bartolomeo@suppo.fi 81 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Saying, for instance, that “the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” would be deemed anti-Semitic under its terms. The definition also bars any comparison between “contemporary Israeli policy” and “that of the Nazis”.

Lmao this is a guilty conscience talking.

[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml 28 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Israel is like the Nazis in that the Americans are going to support them up to the moment they lose, at which point they will retcon their own history to say of course they were always against them.

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[–] john89@lemmy.ca 75 points 6 months ago (2 children)

What the fuck?

Fuck zionists and their disproportionate amount of control over the world.

[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml 17 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The genocidal world order. The civilized nations see them for the monsters that they are.

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[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 14 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Good thing their silly religious stories will never come true.

Imagine being disappointed for eternity.

[–] Alsephina@lemmy.ml 37 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Zionism is a racist colonial ideology, merely using religion as a tool. Theodor Herzl, founder of zionism, said so himself

“We should there form a portion of a rampart of Europe against Asia, an outpost of civilization as opposed to barbarism. We should as a neutral State remain in contact with all Europe, which would have to guarantee our existence.” Source [II]

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[–] LodeMike 73 points 6 months ago

Bruh literal facism

[–] Alsephina@lemmy.ml 71 points 6 months ago (4 children)
[–] Arcturus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 40 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Always the same map

A bit surprising that "israel" didn't vote against it, but that would be a bit too on the nose I guess.

[–] Zehzin@lemmy.world 18 points 6 months ago

Whiteness index map

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[–] Zehzin@lemmy.world 20 points 6 months ago

Always the same map

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[–] exanime 71 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Ah, free speech in the land of the free

[–] mihor@lemmy.ml 20 points 6 months ago

Only free for zionists and the corporations. You know, the wealthy people. Not for the silly plebes.

[–] maniel@lemmy.ml 64 points 6 months ago (1 children)

But Nazism is completely legal in the US?

[–] Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works 18 points 6 months ago

Looking very much so.

[–] Randelung@lemmy.world 52 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Thereby rendering the definition of antisemitism meaningless.

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[–] Binthinkin@kbin.social 47 points 6 months ago

Zionists are also thieves because they are buying stolen Gaza land.

I have sat at passover with Zionists and they are the dumbest shittiest people just like the crazy evangelicals. Just shit people.

Good luck on getting them to admit any type of fault.

[–] AFC1886VCC@reddthat.com 40 points 6 months ago (10 children)

Legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and IDF is being actively outlawed in the western world as governments support the brutal mass killing in Gaza.

Condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine or China's actions in Xinjiang rings completely hollow. Western governments really are the people in glass houses throwing stones.

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[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 39 points 6 months ago (1 children)

at least you have freedom dont ya, us?

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[–] impure9435@kbin.run 31 points 6 months ago (7 children)

That's what happens when corrupt politicians are paid by AIPAC

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[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml 31 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

If this happened under Trump liberals would be up in arms. But it's happening under Biden, so they don't give a shit.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 30 points 6 months ago

Once Obama got in office, Democrat stans suddenly didn’t care about the Global War(s) on Terrorism anymore. They were silent on his star chamber as well. It was a real wake-up call for me.

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[–] okamiueru@lemmy.world 30 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (4 children)

Are all Israelis Jewish? The US is such a fucking joke at this point. And it's tedious to block community after community on lemmy to avoid the noise of vapidness. Good luck with your fucked up politics.

PS: I'd recommend excluding US specific news from "world news". Not sure if this stuff is moderated, or if those who do, give af about it.

[–] Alsephina@lemmy.ml 28 points 6 months ago

The politics of the global hegemon affects the entire world, as much as we hate it. Specially when it's regarding a country they're currently committing genocide in.

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[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 21 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Wonder what other things they'll make illegal to compare to Nazis. Cause once you're banning disparaging speech, why stop there?

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[–] NoLifeGaming@lemmy.world 20 points 6 months ago

The highest order of interference in the US comes from AIPAC, it must go

[–] FreudianCafe@lemmy.ml 18 points 6 months ago (2 children)

At some point US troops will invade to bring democracy to such an autoritarian country

[–] Alsephina@lemmy.ml 20 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 23 points 6 months ago

This gives the USA too much credit. It doesn't invade other countries to save them from tyranny. It invades them because it wants to control them for strategic or economic purposes.

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