Corporate Democrats are joining MAGA Republicans to pass the worst suppression of free speech in modern history
Qasim Rashid at Let's Address This:
If you care about democracy, free speech, or the right to dissent — then you need to know about HR 867, the so-called “Countering Antisemitism Act.” Despite the name, this bill isn’t about protecting anyone from hate. It’s about criminalizing Americans for engaging in peaceful protest. Specifically, it seeks to impose up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for participating in or supporting boycotts against the state of Israel if those boycotts are initiated by international bodies like the United Nations. [...]
A Direct Attack on Our Constitutional Rights
Boycott is a protected constitutional right. Human rights activists seek peaceful boycott to express their opposition to the Israeli government building illegal settlements on Palestinian land. These settlements now exceed 700,000 illegal settlers. Settlers who are commandeering Palestinian homes, displacing Palestinian people, and destroying Palestinian rights. Those who condemn violent reactions to these illegal settlements should be at the forefront of condemning peaceful resistence to these illegal settlements. Instead, we find stunning hypocrisy that those who claim to oppose violent resistence, support violent occupation instead, and instead now seek to ban peaceful resistence. The right to boycott is a foundational American tradition — from the Boston Tea Party to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, peaceful economic protest is how Americans have held the powerful accountable for centuries. In fact, in NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. (1982), the Supreme Court ruled that boycotts for political, social, and economic change are protected under the First Amendment. HR 867 spits in the face of that legacy. It criminalizes peaceful dissent if that dissent challenges a foreign government that happens to be allied with the U.S. That’s not democracy. That’s tyranny.
Meet the Democrats Who Co-Signed This Fascist Bill
These are the five Democratic members of Congress who co-sponsored HR 867 — lending bipartisan cover to what amounts to a criminalization of conscience:
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]: (202) 225-4465
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]: (202) 225-3001
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]: (202) 225-3615
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]: (202) 225-3101
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]: (202) 225-5516
Every one of these lawmakers swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. Every one of them is betraying it with this bill. Be sure to let them hear your opposition to HR 867. Here is a short script to use when you call or email your member of Congress:
[Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling to urge you to oppose HR 867. This bill is an outrageous attack on our First Amendment rights. It seeks to criminalize peaceful boycotts—one of the most foundational tools of democratic protest. Under HR 867, Americans could face a $1 million fine and 20 years in prison just for participating in or supporting a boycott called by the United Nations or other international bodies. Boycotts helped end apartheid. They helped advance civil rights. And now, Congress wants to criminalize that legacy? This isn’t about foreign policy—it’s about free speech. Whether you support or oppose a specific boycott doesn’t matter. What matters is that in a democracy, dissent is not a crime. I strongly urge you to reject HR 867 and defend our constitutional rights. Thank you.]
This Isn’t New. It’s Part of a Structural Effort to Criminalize Palestine Advocacy.
HR 867 is an extension of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act of 2018, and part of a growing pattern in U.S. policy. Already, at least 37 U.S. states have passed laws penalizing individuals, businesses, or contractors who boycott Israel. That’s nearly 75% of the country criminalizing peaceful protest. Why should you care — even if you don’t personally support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement? Because if the government can criminalize one form of protest, it can criminalize any form of protest. Today it’s Palestine. Tomorrow it could be reproductive justice. Racial equity. LGBTQ+ rights. Labor unions. Police reform. Climate justice. Free speech is not free if it only applies to issues you happen to agree with.
HR867 is a gutless anti-American bill designed to chill speech critical of Israel Apartheid, and could lead to further erosion of freedom of speech.