On May 1, 2024, the House passed a bill called, "The Antisemitism Awareness Act," which would require the Education Department to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the legislation. HR 6090 passed the House by a vote of 320-91.
Numerous neo-Nazis and white supremacists condemned the legislation across social media platforms, including Telegram, Gab, and X (formerly Twitter). Multiple neo-Nazis vowed that the bill would not deter their antisemitic social media posts. Other dissidents claim that this bill is an attack on Christianity. Additionally, multiple neo-Nazis and white supremacists commented on Representative Lawler's X account and expressed their disapproval of his bill.
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Extremists Claim Act Attacks Christianity: "The House Of Representatives Just Voted To Make Christianity Illegal In America"
A conspiracy theorist and militant Christian Nationalist wrote on X: "Breaking: The 'antisemitism' law that just passed in the House does NOT just make it illegal to criticize Jews. It makes it ILLEGAL to preach the GOSPEL. The House of Representatives just voted to make Christianity illegal in America. Let that sink in."
On X, an antisemitic extremist and militant Christian Nationalist wrote "Listen you're either on the side of the Synagogue of Satan or you're on the side of Christ the King. There's no nuanced middle ground position. Battle lines are being drawn. You will lose friends. You will lose family members. You will lose respect for people you have long looked up to. This issue is the deciding one of our time. It's what will separate the wheat from the chaff."
Neo-Nazis Vow Non-Compliance
Numerous neo-Nazi social media accounts vowed to defy the legislation.
For example, a neo-Nazi account wrote on May 2: "Jews are basically just preemptively criminalizing the inevitable backlash that's about to occur. This is not a show of confidence. It's a sign of weakness and fear. I will not comply."
On May 1, a neo-Nazi Telegram channel encouraged followers to ramp up their antisemitic efforts in a post. "It's time to become as antisemitic as humanely possible. Stop wasting energy on the browns for now. Our focus should be directly on a targeted campaign of hate and vitriol towards Jews and their kin. Defiance is the only course going forward."
On May 2, a neo-Nazi Telegram channel posted a photo of the House of Representatives voting for the bill, and a photo of Nazi Joseph Goebbels smiling with the quote: "A law against hating Jews is usually the beginning of the end for the Jews." The bottom text states: "The Jewish people will be killed."
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