Austin American-Statesman: Austin Democrats voted against U.S. House resolution condemning antisemitism. Here's why.

WASHINGTON — U.S. representatives from Austin and other progressive Texans voted against a House resolution condemning antisemitism at university campuses and the "evasive and dismissive" response by elite higher education officials "to simply condemn such action."

Congress on Wednesday in a bipartisan three-page resolution slapped back at the presidents of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania, who, in a U.S. House hearing a week earlier, failed to condemn calls for genocide of Jews at their campuses, lawmakers say. The resolution calls for the university presidents' ouster and had almost total GOP support but only a little more than one-third from deeply divided Democrats.

“I voted no with the majority of Democrats on this meaningless resolution that does nothing to address the real issue of antisemitism,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, who also voted against the resolution, told the American-Statesman: “With my longtime, personal history of denouncing antisemitism, I have supported related House resolutions, though unfortunately, none have addressed other forms of hate, such as Islamophobia. This resolution goes too far; House Republicans, who have failed miserably to accomplish anything significant this year, have no business telling universities who to hire and fire.”

The U.S. House passed the resolution Wednesday by a 303-126 vote, with 125 Democrats voting against the measure and 84 in support (three voted present). U.S. Texas Democrats were split 9-4. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against the measure.

Many Democrats were concerned about Congress calling on Harvard President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth, who is Jewish, to resign as Penn President Liz Magill had done a few days earlier.

“If Congress wants to actually combat antisemitism we should invest in the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces civil rights protections on campuses and in communities — instead Republicans want to cut funding for civil rights enforcement,” Casar said.

College campuses have been roiled by anti-Israel protests since the start of the Hamas-Israel war on Oct. 7, but under questioning, the three university presidents were evasive when asked if calls for genocide against Jews violated their schools' standards, saying it depended on the context of the comments.

In the ensuing firestorm, all three faced demands from donors, public officials and interest groups that they be fired or resign.

The University of Texas has felt the pressure, too, and issued a statement Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, saying that it was investigating several incidents involving pro-Palestinian students.

“Protesters crossed the line of acceptable behavior and violated University rules multiple times last week,” it said. “We will protect speech, but we will not tolerate harassment, disruption, and dishonesty.”

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, who also voted against the resolution, said: "Over the years, I have spoken up strongly against antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate and discrimination. More recently, I’ve reached out to San Antonio colleges and universities about protecting students from hate.

“Like many, I disagree with the answers about antisemitism provided to Congress by the three university presidents. However, I don’t believe that members of Congress should legislate the firing of three specific university presidents through the United States Congress. That is a decision for their respective boards of governors."

One notable vote in support of the resolution was from U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, who is running for U.S. Senate in a challenge to incumbent Ted Cruz, the junior senator from Texas.

“I unequivocally denounce antisemitism in all forms and voted for this resolution because I do not believe the recent surge of antisemitism on college campuses is being addressed with the urgency it requires,” Allred said.

But despite his vote in support of the resolution, he added, "I believe that Congress has no business calling on university presidents to resign their position.”