RELEASE: Bipartisan Resolution Introduced in House Condemning Antisemitic Celebrities and Public Figures

Today, December 15, 2022, a bipartisan group of 85 Members of Congress introduced a House Resolution condemning antisemitic celebrities and public figures. This comes during the current crisis of rising antisemitism both at home and around the world.

The bipartisan House Resolution is led by U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Don Bacon (NE-2), Kathy Manning (NC-6), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1).

“Over the last years, we’ve witnessed an alarming spike in activity from domestic extremist groups threatening our communities with antisemitism, violence, and hate — in person, online, and deep in our communities. Celebrities have continued to spew antisemitic filth, promote Nazism, and praise Hitler. It’s not partisan to condemn this vile behavior, and I can’t stress enough how dangerous it is to promote these ideas.” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “We must make concerted efforts at every level of government to stop this drastic rise in antisemitism in New Jersey and across the country. With sweeping bipartisan support, the House has strongly condemned antisemitism and recognized the need for robust education on the Holocaust, genocide, and the long history of antisemitism.”  

“I strongly condemn the antisemitic remarks and antisemitic violence that have been escalating in communities across our country,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism. “I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up against all forms of antisemitism.”

“I am deeply concerned by the unacceptable and dangerous embrace of antisemitism and hate by prominent and influential public figures. Leaders in both parties have a responsibility to call out and condemn hate and antisemitism,” said Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-6), Co-chair of House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

“Combatting antisemitism should not be a partisan issue. With the rise in antisemitic rhetoric and attacks, we need to stand united with the Jewish communities here in the United States and around the world,” said Congressman Don Bacon (NE-2). “This legislation also affirms the need to educate Americans on the Holocaust and antisemitism. I thank my House colleague Rep. Gottheimer for his partnership and leadership on this bill. Through civility, tolerance, and holding to account those who perpetrate antisemitism, we can make this world a better place.”

“We are in the midst of a perfect storm of rising antisemitism, in the United States and around the world. Antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories are being increasingly normalized and mainstreamed through social media, celebrities, in politics and popular culture. It is more important than ever for Members of Congress to reach across the aisle and speak out against this trend on a bipartisan basis. We need all elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to join together in fighting antisemitism,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO.

“Jewish Federations agree that community leaders must speak out against discrimination and disinformation in order to reverse the rising tide of antisemitism and hatred, which is why we work every day to engage and educate local communities to stand up to these hatreds,” said Adam Teitelbaum of the Jewish Federations of North America.

“The Orthodox Union greatly appreciates the bipartisan resolution led by Reps. Gottheimer, Bacon and others.  At this time of surging antisemitism, clear statements by our leaders repudiating this bigotry are critical,” said Nathan Diament of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center.

“Antisemitism is on the rise across the United States, and Jewish communities across the country (including many within our own Reform Movement) have experienced antisemitic incidents and threats in recent months. Public figures have a responsibility to condemn antisemitism and bigotry, yet several prominent politicians and celebrities have instead chosen to meet with white supremacists and spew antisemitic tropes, vitriol, and Holocaust denial across digital platforms. We thank Representative Gottheimer for introducing this resolution condemning antisemitism by public figures and urge our leaders to forcefully oppose white supremacy, religious bigotry, and all forms of hate,” said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

The bipartisan House Resolution includes 85 total original cosponsors: Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Don Bacon (NE-2), Kathy Manning (NC-6), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Alma S. Adams, PhD (NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-7), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-2), Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), David N. Cicilline (RI-1), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-9), Steve Cohen (TN-9), Jim Costa (CA-16), Angie Craig (MN-2), Jason Crow (CO-6), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Danny K. Davis (IL-7), Diana DeGette (CO-1), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Andrew R. Garbarino (NY-2), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Jared Golden  (ME-2), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), Al Green (TX-9), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Dusty Johnson (SD-At Large), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), David P. Joyce (OH-14), John Katko (NY-24), Young Kim (CA-39), Andy Kim (NJ-3), Darin LaHood  (IL-18), James R. Langevin (RI-2), Susie Lee (NV-3), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Elaine G. Luria (VA-2), Tom Malinowski (NJ-7), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Lucy McBath (GA-6), Betty McCollum (MN-4), Peter Meijer (MI-3), Grace Meng (NY-6), Daniel Meuser (PA-9), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Stephanie Murphy (FL-7), Joe Neguse (CO-2), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-Delegate), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-9), Scott Peters (CA-52), Dean Phillips (MN-3), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Tom Rice (SC-7), Patrick Ryan  (NY-19), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Bradley S. Schneider (IL-10), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Albio Sires (NJ-8), Elissa Slotkin (MI-8), Abigail D. Spanberger (VA-7), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Chris Stewart  (UT-2), Thomas R. Suozzi (NY-3), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Dina Titus (NV-1), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), David Trone (MD-6), Fred Upton (MI-6), David G. Valadao (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), Debbie Wasserman Schultz  (FL-23), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Bruce Westerman (AR-4), Susan Wild (PA-7), Nikema Williams (GA-5)

Text of the bipartisan House Resolution can be found here and below.

RESOLUTION

Condemning antisemitism by public figures.

Whereas there is currently a crisis of rising antisemitism, both at home and around the world;

Whereas with increasing frequency, influential public figures, celebrities, and foreign government officials use social media platforms to spread their antisemitic, hateful views, including Holocaust denial and praise for Adolf Hitler;

Whereas the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) most recent ‘‘Audit of Antisemitic Incidents’’ in the United States recorded 2,717 acts of assault, vandalism, and harassment in the year 2021 alone, an average of more than 7 incidents per day, which represents a 34-percent increase from 2020 and the highest year on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979;

Whereas there have been a growing number of deadly attacks on the Jewish community in our country, and just since 2018, high-profile attacks on Jews have occurred in Jersey City, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Poway, California, Colleyville, Texas, and others;

Whereas, in May 2022, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1125, Condemning Rising Antisemitism, which calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to use their platforms to condemn and combat any and all manifestations of antisemitism;

Whereas there has been a marked increase in prominent public figures using hate speech online; and

Whereas it is the responsibility of elected officials to speak up against antisemitism: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns the increase in antisemitism in the public sphere and calls on national faith leaders of all denominations and Americans of influence to join with current and former elected leaders to use their platforms to speak out against antisemitism;

(2) stands in unity with the Jewish people in the United States and around the world against this rising antisemitism; and 

(3) asserts the need for robust education on the Holocaust, genocide, and the long history of antisemitism to combat the rising tide of hate.

###