Oppose H.R. 867 — Defend the First Amendment

I’m writing to urge you to firmly oppose H.R. 867, the “IGO Anti-Boycott Act”—a dangerous, unconstitutional bill that would criminalize Americans for engaging in peaceful, political boycotts of Israel and its illegal settlements. This bill is a direct assault on the First Amendment. Political boycotts are a core form of protected speech in the United States, upheld by the Supreme Court in NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. (1982). By punishing individuals and businesses for their political beliefs and advocacy, H.R. 867 sets a chilling precedent that threatens the very foundation of our democracy. Throughout history, Americans have used boycotts to stand against injustice—from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the fight against apartheid in South Africa. This bill would make that legacy a crime. It’s not just wrong—it’s fundamentally anti-democratic. Worse still, H.R. 867 seeks to shield Israel from accountability for ongoing human rights abuses, including illegal settlement expansion and violations of international law. This bill forces Americans to choose between obeying federal law and exercising their conscience. That is unacceptable. Congress has no business legislating loyalty to a foreign government, especially at the expense of our constitutional freedoms. This bill betrays American values and erodes the rights of every citizen. I urge you to publicly and unequivocally oppose H.R. 867. I—and countless others—will be closely watching how you choose to defend (or fail to defend) the Constitution in this critical moment.