U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost says he should have voted for a resolution condemning antisemitism on college campuses, even though it contained what he called Republican “falsehoods.”
The Orlando Democrat was one of 23 representatives and the only member of Florida’s congressional delegation who opposed the measure on Thursday
Frost said he has a different view after discussions with constituents and local leaders and “a difficult, but important” listening session at the University of Central Florida’s Hillel chapter, a student Jewish organization.
“I have come to realize that I should have voted differently on H. Res. 798, to send a clear message that I stand against antisemitism,” Frost said in a statement released Tuesday.
Frost said he has always taken a strong stance against antisemitism, but he was concerned about “inaccuracies” and “falsehoods” added to the resolution by Republicans. He said he supported an alternate resolution that passed the Senate that he thought was more accurate.
“I truly worried that this would open the door for Republicans to infringe on the free speech of students and young people,” Frost said. “Which is why I chose to support and co-sponsor the House version of that same Senate resolution. I now realize that I did not properly prioritize the message this resolution was intended to send — that antisemitism has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere in our communities. A sentiment I have and always will firmly believe in.”
The resolution wrongfully implied that instances of antisemitism on campuses went unpunished by universities, Frost said in explaining his vote on Friday.
Others opposing the resolution included progressive Democratic U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against the resolution. He cited free-speech concerns.
Last month, Frost supported a resolution standing with Israel as “it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.”
He’s also one of 18 Democrats who signed onto a resolution calling for an “immediate de-escalation and ceasefire” in the region.
In a statement explaining his position, Frost said he “supports Israel’s need to end the campaign of terror by Hamas, but the current tactics have led to the death of thousands of innocent people in Gaza.”
He vowed Tuesday to “stand firmly with my Jewish brothers, sisters, and siblings who are fearfully seeing antisemitism rise across our country.”
