Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on May 20, 2022

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Northern Kentucky Republican, was the only House member to voteagainst a resolution this week that condemned rising antisemitism in the nationandworld.

The American Jewish Committee publicly criticized Massie, who votes against things so often he gotthe nickname"Mr. No."

"It's Jewish (American) Heritage Month," the national group's chief field operations officer, Melanie Maron Pell of Louisville, told The Courier Journal."In a moment when not a whole lot gets overwhelming support bipartisan support this should not have been hard. This should not have been a hard one for him, to support and recognize that antisemitism is on the rise."

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The resolution Massievoted against Wednesday afternoon includes several non-binding calls to action, including:

Massie tweeted at about 1 a.m. Thursdaysaying: "If we just voted based on the names of the bills, Id vote for almost all of them." He did not specifically mention the resolution on antisemitism.

He tweeted directly about the resolution Thursday afternoon, saying:

"I dont hate anyone based on his or her ethnicity or religion. Legitimate government exists, in part, to punish those who commit unprovoked violence against others, but government cant legislate thought.This bill promoted internet censorship and violations of the 1st amendment."

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Pell, of the American Jewish Committee, said it's important for members of Congress to show recognition as the House of Representatives did Wednesday, by voting 420-1 to approve this resolution that antisemitism is a legitimate, serious and increasing problem here in the U.S.

"The Jewish community is feeling vulnerable," she said. "And we expect our elected officials to speak up ... and demonstrate that they both recognize theres a problem and stand with the Jewish community."

Pell said voting in support of this congressional resolution condemning antisemitism was "like the lowest threshold required," adding that other members of Congress who "have been problematic in different ways for many in the Jewish community" supported this measure.

Recent instances of antisemitism as well as Jewish individuals' direct experiences with that longstanding form of hate across the nation have been reportedby the AJC and other organizations.

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Pell indicated Massie's 'no' vote this week was especially concerning as the country grapples with a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. A white man is chargedwithkilling10 people and injuring three more individuals, nearly all of them Black.

The accused shooter posted documents online that talked about a racist conspiracy theory that's rooted in white supremacy and antisemitism.

Massie's lone 'no' vote wasn't surprising, Pell said, but it was still disappointing.(It's worth noting that while Massie was the only person who voted against the resolution, eight other House Republicans did not cast a vote on the resolution Wednesday. None of those eight were from Kentucky.)

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Pell pointed to other past actions by Massie that she indicated were similarlytroubling, including:

Morgan Watkins is The Courier Journal'schief political reporter. Contact her atmwatkins@courierjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26.

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KY Rep. Thomas Massie voted 'no' on measure condemning antisemitism - Courier Journal

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