Rep. Summer Lee’s Statement on H.Res. 1449

I voted for this resolution on the House floor because I strongly condemn antisemitism. Though the resolution falls short of endorsing the IHRA definition, its mention invites a reminder that this definition conflates criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism. This is both unacceptable in a country that values the right to free speech and deeply harmful to communities fighting for Palestinian human rights. The right to criticize the actions of any foreign state should be protected.

My hope is that we can unite to condemn all forms of hate—anti-Blackness, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and more—without politicizing our communities’ pain or demonizing those fighting for peace, dignity, and self-determination.