Oppose H.R. 867 – Defend Our First Amendment Right to Boycott

I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 867, the “IGO Anti-Boycott Act,” which seeks to criminalize voluntary boycotts of Israel and its illegal settlements. This bill is a direct attack on the First Amendment, violating the fundamental right of Americans to engage in political boycotts—a right the Supreme Court upheld in NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. (1982). Boycotts have been a powerful tool for justice throughout American history, from the civil rights movement to the anti-apartheid struggle against South Africa. H.R. 867’s sweeping penalties would set a dangerous precedent, allowing the government to police political expression and punish individuals for exercising their constitutional rights. Criminalizing peaceful advocacy is not only unconstitutional but fundamentally anti-democratic. The bill also serves to shield Israel from accountability for its human rights abuses, including ongoing war crimes and the illegal expansion of settlements. The U.S. should not be in the business of legislating loyalty to a foreign government, particularly at the cost of our own constitutional freedoms. I urge you to reject this blatant overreach and stand up for the First Amendment by opposing H.R. 867. I will be closely watching your stance on this issue.