Ranking Member Raskin’s Statement on the Cancellation of Republicans’ DC Hearing

Washington, D.C. (May 8, 2024)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, issued the following statement after Chairman Comer cancelled a full committee hearing on protests at George Washington University:

“Republicans’ cancellation of today’s hearing makes it clear that they were never interested in real oversight, much less seriously addressing antisemitism, but were simply focused on seizing another opportunity for photo ops, cheap press hits, and violating Washingtonians’ right to home rule.

“Oversight Democrats remain committed to defending the people of the District of Columbia’s fundamental right to self-governance, and Democrats will continue to defend free speech and First Amendment rights—while standing strong against the alarming rise of antisemitic harassment, bigotry, and violence wherever they arise.

“For years, Republicans have indulged and excused antisemitism and lawlessness—from the 2017 antisemitic riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Proud Boys and other racists chanted ‘Jews will not replace us’ to the January 6, 2021, insurrection where neo-Nazis attacked the police and one rioter wore a sweatshirt with the words ‘Camp Auschwitz, Staff.’  Rather than join Committee Democrats in denouncing the ‘Great Replacement’ theory, a hateful theory that has fueled many of the worst hate-based mass-shootings in recent years, Committee Republicans have repeatedly echoed and even defended it.

“If my Republican colleagues are sincere in joining Democrats’ strong efforts to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate, then I would urge them to reject their own antisemitic rhetoric; support the legislation that will actually combat hate, like the Countering Antisemitism Act and the Showing Up for Students Act; and take action on the requests laid out in the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism rolled out by the Biden-Harris Administration last summer.”