To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Oppose Bills Criminalizing Free Speech Against Settlements & Saudi Arabia
Just Foreign Policy
Join ACLU & MoveOn in opposing S.720 & H.R.1697, which violate Constitutional guarantees of free speech & would make it illegal to boycott settlements.
Why is this important?
The ACLU has written to Congress urging opposition to pending bills that seek to criminalize advocacy of boycotts against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The ACLU warned that proponents of the bills are "seeking additional co-sponsors," and explained that the bills would "punish individuals for no reason other than their political beliefs." [1]
MoveOn has joined the ACLU's opposition to the bills. "Regardless how you feel about BDS, Congress must reject action to criminalize free speech and peaceful protest. The Democrats in House and Senate must say no to H.R. 1697/S. 720," MoveOn said. “Free speech and peaceful protest are integral to democracy." [2]
S.720 & H.R.1697 would erase the distinction in U.S. law between Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank and make it illegal for U.S. companies to boycott or otherwise discriminate against Israeli settlements in the West Bank based on calls by the United Nations or the European Union. [3]
Moreover, the legislation would prohibit Americans from “requesting the imposition of any boycott by a foreign country against a country which is friendly to the United States.” This could be interpreted to prohibit supporting sanctions against Saudi Arabia for its attempts to push Yemen into famine, or for its support of extremist groups, or for prohibiting women from driving, since Saudi Arabia is inexplicably claimed by many in Washington to be "friendly to the United States.” [4]
Urge your Senators and Representative to join the ACLU and MoveOn in opposing these unconstitutional bills by signing our petition.
References:
1. https://theintercept.com/2017/07/19/u-s-lawmakers-seek-to-criminally-outlaw-support-for-boycott-campaign-against-israel/
2. http://forward.com/fast-forward/377452/moveonorg-calls-on-progressives-to-kill-anti-bds-bill/
3. https://peacenow.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/pending-BDS-Conflation-bills-in-Congress.pdf
4. https://thinkprogress.org/free-speech-senators-israel-boycott-felony-d99b2ee5a14d
MoveOn has joined the ACLU's opposition to the bills. "Regardless how you feel about BDS, Congress must reject action to criminalize free speech and peaceful protest. The Democrats in House and Senate must say no to H.R. 1697/S. 720," MoveOn said. “Free speech and peaceful protest are integral to democracy." [2]
S.720 & H.R.1697 would erase the distinction in U.S. law between Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank and make it illegal for U.S. companies to boycott or otherwise discriminate against Israeli settlements in the West Bank based on calls by the United Nations or the European Union. [3]
Moreover, the legislation would prohibit Americans from “requesting the imposition of any boycott by a foreign country against a country which is friendly to the United States.” This could be interpreted to prohibit supporting sanctions against Saudi Arabia for its attempts to push Yemen into famine, or for its support of extremist groups, or for prohibiting women from driving, since Saudi Arabia is inexplicably claimed by many in Washington to be "friendly to the United States.” [4]
Urge your Senators and Representative to join the ACLU and MoveOn in opposing these unconstitutional bills by signing our petition.
References:
1. https://theintercept.com/2017/07/19/u-s-lawmakers-seek-to-criminally-outlaw-support-for-boycott-campaign-against-israel/
2. http://forward.com/fast-forward/377452/moveonorg-calls-on-progressives-to-kill-anti-bds-bill/
3. https://peacenow.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/pending-BDS-Conflation-bills-in-Congress.pdf
4. https://thinkprogress.org/free-speech-senators-israel-boycott-felony-d99b2ee5a14d