


House Democrats were divided over whether to support a resolution to condemn the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado and “express gratitude” for the work of federal immigration law enforcement.
The resolution cleared the House with a 280 to 113 vote, as 75 Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans in support. Meanwhile, 113 Democrats opposed the measure, and six opted to vote present.
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Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) and other Colorado Republicans introduced a three-page resolution condemning the attack that also expresses “gratitude” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for “protecting the homeland.”
An earlier version of the resolution labeled “Free Palestine” an “antisemitic slogan that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.” That phrase was ultimately taken out of the legislation.
A source familiar told the Washington Examiner that Evans’s team removed the slogan because they wanted to “moderate the language” and be “better team players” after Democrats expressed anger at the bill text.
However, Democratic leadership made their opposition clear. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he would vote against Evans’s resolution, dismissing it as “an embarrassment” and “a joke.’”
“Who is this guy? He’s not seriously concerned with combating antisemitism in America. This is not a serious effort. This guy’s going to be a one-term member of Congress. He’s a complete and total embarrassment. He’s not even pretending to be moderate at this point,” Jeffries said earlier on Monday.
Despite the language, some of the most staunchly pro-Israel Democrats in the House still backed the legislation. The vote comes in the aftermath of a violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where a man allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” while throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The attack injured at least 15 people and one dog, intensifying national concerns over rising antisemitism.
That attack came less than two weeks after two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed outside a Jewish museum event in Washington, D.C. Just a month earlier, an arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence, home to Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, while he and his family were asleep on the first night of Passover.
The vote marked yet another flashpoint in a growing rift within the Democratic Party over U.S. policy toward Israel. While some Democrats have pushed for stronger support of Israel amid rising antisemitism, others have voiced concern over human rights in Gaza, exposing ideological fault lines that have become increasingly difficult to bridge.
Republicans, meanwhile, are seizing the opportunity to exploit divisions within the Democratic caucus. By inserting language praising Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency deeply polarizing among progressives, especially in the wake of recent immigration riots in Los Angeles, GOP lawmakers have made it harder for Democrats to support the resolution without alienating parts of their base.
The House also voted on a separate resolution that condemned the recent wave of ideologically motivated attacks targeting Jewish Americans. The vote passed unanimously 400-0, with one Republican and one Democrat voting present.
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The resolution calls attention to a disturbing increase in antisemitic violence across the country and reaffirms Congress’s commitment to protecting the rights of individuals to gather and worship without fear.
It urges law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate and prosecute these hate crimes and calls on public officials and community leaders to speak out firmly against antisemitism and politically motivated violence.