Today’s Action: Protect the First Amendment – Tell the Senate NO on S.1

The ACLU is calling the Senate’s first bill of the session (S. 1) “a full-scale attack on American’s First Amendment freedoms.” Rightfully so: the Senate is seeking to penalize our constitutional right to exercise free expression through boycott. The vote to proceed was blocked by Senate Democrats yesterday in light of the government shutdown…but it’s expected to move forward once the shutdown is resolved, and we need to start NOW working to stop it.

Boycotting is a historically successful tactic for opposing political and human rights issues, well-demonstrated by the Civil Rights Era Montgomery Bus Boycott of the 1960’s, and the anti-Apartheid movement that boycotted South African products in support of the non-white population living under brutal institutional oppression.

Today, millions of Americans choose to participate in a boycott against Israeli products, in political response to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. But Republican leaders and several Democrats want to legalize the government’s ability to fine, fire, and ban government employees and businesses that participate in a boycott of Israeli products.

Whatever their (or your) views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this criminalization of the constitutional right to freedom of speech is NOT the answer.

Call or email your Senators and tell them S. 1 is a dangerously unconstitutional bill that undermines the First Amendment and freedom of speech. Demand their vow to vote NO on S. 1.

Think the bill sounds draconian? It’s already the law in more than a dozen states.

In 2017, a Kansas woman named Esther Koontz was barred from working as a state-contracted teacher-trainer. The Mennonite Church, which Koontz belongs to, employs boycott to draw Palestinian civilians living in repressive conditions under occupation by Israel’s right wing government. But, Kansas state law requires all employees to sign an agreement NOT to boycott Israel. Though completely qualified, Koontz lost the job when she refused to sign.

It’s 2019, not 1984, but Crimethink is real, and we need to call our Senators TODAY.

Email or call (202.224.3121) your Senators and tell them you’re against S. 1 and you’ll be expecting a NO vote on this wildly unconstitutional bill.