Protect Democracy and Constitutional Freedoms: Oppose S. 4136 and S. 4127

I write to express my outrage as your constituent at the attempts to undermine democracy, suppress free speech, and criminalize dissent under the guise of combating terrorism or antisemitism. I urge you to oppose and block any efforts to advance the unconstitutional and repressive bills S. 4136, “A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist-supporting organizations,” and S. 4127, the Antisemitism Awareness Act. S. 4136, the Senate version of H.R. 6408/H.R. 9495, represents an alarming attack on democratic freedoms. If passed, it would grant the federal government unchecked power to shut down nonprofit organizations without due process, transparency, or accountability. This is a blatant violation of constitutional rights and a clear effort to stifle political activism under the pretense of “national security.” Broad opposition to this draconian legislation includes civil liberties, human rights, and educational organizations such as the ACLU, Brennan Center, Public Citizen, NAACP, and National Women’s Law Center. S. 4127 would weaponize the deeply flawed IHRA definition of antisemitism, a definition that has been discredited for conflating legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies with antisemitism. Codifying this definition would silence free speech, particularly advocacy for Palestinian rights, while doing nothing to make Jewish communities safer. This bill is widely opposed by civil liberties organizations, Jewish human rights groups, and major editorial boards. These bills are not about protecting safety or combating extremism—they are about dismantling movements for justice. The Palestinian rights movement, which seeks to end Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza, is a target of these laws, but the broader nonprofit and social justice sector will also suffer. Make no mistake: these attacks on activism are part of a calculated strategy to eliminate dissent and consolidate power. This is a moment of crisis for our democracy. I demand that you oppose S. 4136 and S. 4127, and any attempts to advance their dangerous agendas. Failure to do so is complicity in the erosion of constitutional freedoms and the betrayal of your oath to protect and defend the rights of the people.