A Republican consultant from Kentucky solid the one vote towards a Home decision honoring Jewish Individuals' heritage and denouncing an increase in violence motivated by antisemitism.

Consultant Thomas Massie was the only real vote towards the decision, which handed the Home with 420 votes, with eight Republicans abstaining from voting. Though the decision handed overwhelmingly with bipartisan help, Jewish advocacy teams have been dismayed by Massie's vote on what they referred to as a clear-cut situation. Massie, nevertheless, later stated his opposition to the decision was motivated by what's turning into a typical concern amongst conservatives: infringement on free speech rights.

"I do not hate anybody based mostly on his or her ethnicity or faith," Massie stated in a tweet Thursday. "Official authorities exists, partially, to punish those that commit unprovoked violence towards others, however authorities cannot legislate thought."

He added that the decision "promoted web censorship and violations of the first modification."

Republican Representative Thomas Massie
Consultant Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, was the only real vote towards a Home decision denouncing violence spurred by antisemitism. Above, Massie is pictured exterior the U.S. Capitol Constructing in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2022.ANNA MONEYMAKE/GETTY IMAGES

Advocacy group StopAntisemitism stated on Twitter earlier that it was "outraged" at Massie's vote towards the decision. The group additionally criticized Massie's refusal to fund Holocaust schooling, condemn a marketing campaign to divest in Israel and for evaluating COVID-19 restrictions to Nazi Germany.

"At a time when nationwide politics is roiled by partisan rancor, it was straightforward for Democrats and Republicans to face united towards rising antisemitism," Melanie Maron Pell, chief discipline operations officer for the American Jewish Committee, informed Newsweek in an e-mail, additionally citing the consultant's earlier votes. "Straightforward for everybody besides Massie."

Sponsored by Florida Consultant Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Home Decision 1125 states that generations of Jewish folks have come to the U.S. fleeing "oppression, discrimination, and persecution."

The decision notes that conspiracy theories maligning Jewish folks have led to mass killings, notably 6 million that died by the hands of the Nazis. Nonetheless, the decision cites a 2020 survey discovering that youthful generations didn't know key info concerning the Holocaust.

"Our story is woven into America's historical past via generations of leaders," Wasserman Schultz stated on the Home flooring. "But as we honor the profound impression American Jews made on our nationwide and tradition, I have to sadly acknowledge that the popularity and understanding that [Jewish American Heritage Month] seeks to foster is critically wanted now greater than ever."

She added the Anti-Defamation League stated that antisemitic incidents are up 34 p.c nationwide. Moreover, she cited an American Jewish Committee survey from 2021 that discovered almost 1 / 4 of American Jews had been focused within the earlier 12 months, and 4 in 10 folks had modified their habits out of considerations of being focused.

Wasserman Schultz referenced how a gunman accused of opening hearth on Black buyers at a Buffalo grocery store this week espoused "alternative principle," the concept that elites are attempting to interchange whites economically and culturally. Some variations of the idea are antisemitic.

The decision pointed to how antisemitic misinformation continues to flourish, and calls on "social media platforms to institute stronger and extra important efforts to measure and handle on-line antisemitism whereas defending free speech considerations."

Moreover, the decision referred to as for the U.S. to fight antisemitism and work with the Inter-Parliamentary Activity Pressure to Fight On-line Antisemitism, a gaggle of lawmakers from Israel, the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.Ok.

Republican Consultant Steve Chabot stated on the Home flooring he was "involved concerning the references to authorities intervention within the on-line speech." Republicans have resisted requires social media to crack down on disinformation, arguing that conservative viewpoints find yourself being censored. Chabot stated he wished Democrats had executed extra to work together with his aspect to deal with this concern.

"We can not enable our shared want to fight antisemitism to result in censorship and management, which can solely exacerbate the issue," he added.

Replace 5/19/22, 4:30 p.m. ET: This story has been up to date with extra data and background.