Laws that penalize support for Palestinian human rights violate Americans’ rights
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We are members of faith communities in the United States whose congregations or denominations have adopted resolutions to boycott products made in Israeli settlements—built on occupied Palestinian lands in violation of international law and longstanding official U.S. policy—or have implemented a screen to divest from companies that profit from the 50-year-old
Israeli military occupation of Palestine. These resolutions affirm our commitment to a just peace for all Palestinians and Israelis.
We are alarmed by legislation recently passed in a number of states penalizing participation in the nonviolent, grassroots Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights and by similar legislation that is proposed in the U.S. Congress. In August, the Kansas State Department of Education used the state’s anti-BDS legislation to bar a member of the Mennonite church, a math teacher and curriculum coach in Wichita, Kansas, from participating in a program to train other math teachers.
This is a dangerous precedent that threatens to extend repression of Palestinians living under Israeli military rule by muzzling the right of Americans to free speech.
Accordingly, the ACLU has filed suit against the Kansas Commissioner of Education in defense of this school teacher and her right to boycott.
Anti-BDS laws that have already been enacted in several states and similar legislation that is proposed in Congress effectively penalize actions taken by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Methodist Church, the Mennonite Church USA, the United Church of Christ, and other denominations; and tens of thousands of Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and secular Americans who support boycotts and divestment aimed at ending Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights.
As faith leaders, we have long used the nonviolent instruments of boycott and divestment in our work for justice and peace. These economic measures have proven to be powerful tools for social change, from strengthening labor rights for farm workers to ending apartheid in South Africa. As has been warned by the ACLU and other civil liberties groups, anti-BDS legislation is an extremely grave attack on free speech that threatens the use of boycotts, divestment, and sanctions for other peace and human justice causes.
WE CALL ON ALL AMERICANS to join us and the ACLU in defending our First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Urge state legislators and members of Congress to reject anti-BDS legislation as an infringement on the rights of American citizens. You can contact them here
SIGNATORIES: DENOMINATIONS
Alliance of Baptists
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)
The United Church of Christ
SIGNATORIES: ORGANIZATIONS
American Friends Service Committee
Israel/Palestine Mission Network, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Mennonite Palestine Israel Network
Methodist Federation for Social Action
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Quaker Palestine Israel Network
Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East
United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network
United Methodists for Kairos Response
ENDORSEMENTS
American Muslims for Palestine
Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy
Christians Witnessing for Palestine
Christian-Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel-Palestine
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (Catholic)
Delaware Episcopalians for Middle East Peace
Disciples Palestine Israel Network
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine Israel Network
Freedom2Boycott, Maryland
Friends of Sabeel – Colorado
Friends of Sabeel North America
Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
Interfaith Alliance for Peace in the Holy Land, Tampa Bay, Florida
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council
Kairos USA
Middle East Task Force of the Chicago Presbytery
NorCal Friends of Sabeel
Palestine-Israel Action Group, Ann Arbor Quakers
Palestinian American Christian Advocacy
Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
UCC Central Atlantic Conference Palestine Israel Network
United Methodists’ Holy Land Task Force, California-Pacific Conference
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace
Western District Task Force on Israel- Palestine, Mennonite Church USA