Oppose S.Res.288 – Stop Equating Anti-Zionism with Antisemitism

I’m writing to demand that you unequivocally oppose S.Res.288, a dangerous and dishonest resolution that seeks to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism, silencing legitimate political dissent and violating the First Amendment. This resolution is not about combating hate. It is about shielding the Israeli government from criticism as it carries out well-documented atrocities, including massacres of civilians, destruction of hospitals, weaponization of starvation, and the use of banned weapons in Gaza—all condemned by human rights experts, U.N. agencies, and even former U.S. officials. To oppose Zionism—an ethno-nationalist political ideology that has led to the ongoing dispossession and oppression of Palestinians—is not to hate Jews. In fact, many Jews are proudly anti-Zionist and view Zionism as a betrayal of Jewish ethics and global justice. S.Res.288 is a cynical attempt to erase that distinction and stifle a rising global consensus that opposes apartheid, genocide, and settler colonialism. Its vague language and sweeping accusations target students, educators, human rights organizations, and even Jewish Americans who dare to speak out against Israel’s crimes. That is not a defense of Jewish safety—it is a weaponization of antisemitism for political ends. If this government truly cared about stopping antisemitic violence, it would protect vulnerable Jewish communities from white nationalist extremism and stop giving cover to a foreign government that kills journalists, bombs civilians, and punishes aid workers. Instead, S.Res.288 enables the persecution of anti-war activists, Palestinians, and Jews who dissent from U.S. foreign policy orthodoxy. Supporting this resolution is a cowardly betrayal of your oath to uphold the Constitution. Silencing speech, criminalizing dissent, and whitewashing war crimes is not leadership—it’s complicity. The public is watching, and history will remember who stood for free speech, truth, and justice—and who used antisemitism as a shield for apartheid. Vote no on S.Res.288. Do not let this shameful resolution pass without resistance.