Kamlager-Dove Statement on Voting "Yes" on the Antisemitism Awareness Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) released the following statement on her vote for the Antisemitism Awareness Act:

"Students nationwide are trying to exercise their right to free speech. They are expressing their frustrations and dreams about a country they love and doing so in spaces where they believe they will be safe—college and university campuses. Campuses should be places where dissent can occur peacefully and where students can exchange ideas, press for change, and engage thoughtfully in public discourse.

Shamefully, some campuses have now become unsafe and hostile environments for that kind of discourse. It is perfectly fine to disagree and debate. In fact, debate is what strengthens democracy. It is not okay to stoke fear or to spread hate and bigotry— and it is never okay to practice antisemitism. Just yesterday, a Nazi swastika was graffitied on campus at the University of Southern California, which is in my district. I voted yes on the Antisemitism Awareness Act because antisemitic beliefs and behavior are abhorrent. Hate in any form cannot be tolerated.

My vote today does not negate my support of freedom of speech. Students have a right to protest peacefully and to make demands of their college administration. Peaceful dissent on campuses should be able to occur without fear of retaliation, arrest, or abuse— just as all students have a right to exist on campus without fear of harassment, intimidation, and violence.

I wish the House would have taken up more meaningful and comprehensive legislation to combat antisemitism, like Rep. Manning's bipartisan Countering Antisemitism Act, which would allocate the tools and federal resources needed to tackle this issue. I wish the House would also acknowledge and address the rise in islamophobia, which, like antisemitism, has skyrocketed since the October 7th attacks. And I deeply wish House Republicans would stop weaponizing the conflict in the Middle East to stoke division and accelerate hate and mistrust among communities.

We are in a break-glass moment that is testing our collective humanity. The way through this is to listen to one another, humanize each other, and work together on meaningful solutions that rebuild community and address the root causes of hate, intolerance, and fear."

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