Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently promised Jewish leaders that he would try later this year to pass a bill aimed at curbing antisemitism on college campuses, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The bill would be Congress' most forceful response to the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the country this spring, which sometimes led to the harassment of Jewish students.
However, critics argue the definition of antisemitism the legislation offers is overly broad.
Between the lines: A nonprofit group has spent about $5 million on an ad campaign blasting Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker, for his inaction.
Schumer has privately said he plans to attach the Antisemitism Awareness Act — making the federal government adopt a broad definition of antisemitism to enforce anti-discrimination laws — to a must-pass defense bill after the election, multiple sources told us.The bill passed the House overwhelmingly over the summer, but it has been a divisive issue in the Democratic Party, laying bare internal strife.The nonprofit group behind the ads, Florence Avenue Initiative, doesn't have to disclose its donors.
Frustrations from pro-Israel groups have grown since the bill passed the House in May, repeatedly asking Schumer to get it through the Senate.
Sources familiar with the discussions say they remain skeptical that Schumer will get the bill through the Senate this year, with one saying they will believe it when they see it.
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Illegal establishment of a state religion and a violation of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. This is Jews forcing their religion on us and outlawing Christianity.
Democrats are always powerless to enact changes that benefit the people (min. wage hike, public healthcare, codification of Roe v. Wade, etc.) but somehow they find a way to force through measures that benefit the ruling class in "must-pass" (i.e., military) legislation.
@SolidL3ftWingGreen1yr1Y
That's unconstitutional and will eventually be thrown out, as it criminalizes criticism of a country committing war crimes and unlawful acts.
Think about it everyone. If Harris wins, Schumer is going to make criticizing Israel a crime.
And since he rubber-stamped all Trump's right wing judicial picks, I'm sure it'll pass their scrutiny.
@PloverRubyGreen1yr1Y
Making it illegal to criticize the genocidal actions of Israel, as illegal as it is evil
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