More than 100 House Democrats voted against a Republican-led resolution condemning the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder and Colorado’s sanctuary state laws on Monday.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), cleared the lower chamber in a 280-113 vote, with 75 Democrats joining Republicans to pass the measure.
Democrats fumed over language in the resolution expressing “gratitude to law enforcement, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP’s campaign arm, charged that Democrats voting against the bill “sided with terrorists over police officers and flat-out refused to condemn antisemitism.”
“Democrats have become the pro-terrorist, anti-cop, antisemitic caucus. And they’re proud of it,” the NRCC wrote on X.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) slammed Evans as a “joke” ahead of the vote.
“Who is this guy? He’s not seriously concerned with combating antisemitism in America. This is not a serious effort,” Jeffries told reporters. “Antisemitism is a scourge on America. It shouldn’t be weaponized politically.”
Evans shot back that the “wildly offensive sentiment” expressed by Jeffries is “why antisemitism persists.”
“The Left is unserious about finding real solutions,” the congressman argued on X. “Condemning terrorism is not a joking matter.”
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), who is Jewish and voted no on the resolution, argued on the House floor that the measure was being put forward to simply “score political points.”
“You weren’t here, Mr. Evans, last term, but there were about 10 antisemitism resolutions that effectively said the same thing solely to score political points,” Goldman said. “We Jews are sick and tired of being used as pawns.”
In his floor speech, Evans stated: “As a former police officer and Army veteran of the Global War on Terror, I know how Colorado’s radical leftists leaders and laws prioritize illegal immigrants over public safety — allowing antisemitic terrorists like Mohammed Sabry Soliman to strike.”
Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, allegedly used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower during the June 1 attack targeting peaceful marchers who were calling for the release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza.
Fifteen people were injured in the firebombing, during which Soliman allegedly shouted, “Free Palestine.”
“The passing of my resolution ensures we condemn all acts of antisemitism and affirms that the free and open collaboration between state and local law enforcement with their federal counterparts is key in preventing future attacks like this,” the congressman continued.
A separate resolution introduced by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), who more generally denounced the uptick in antisemitic attacks in the US, passed in a 400-0 vote.
