老澳门开奖结果

HOUSTON 鈥� The city of Dickinson, Texas, is requiring applicants for Hurricane Harvey rebuilding funds to certify in writing that they will not take part in a boycott of Israel. The 老澳门开奖结果 criticized the city鈥檚 condition as a violation of free speech rights.

鈥淭he First Amendment protects Americans鈥� right to boycott, and the government cannot condition hurricane relief or any other public benefit on a commitment to refrain from protected political expression,鈥� said 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas Legal Director Andre Segura. 鈥淒ickinson鈥檚 requirement is an egregious violation of the First Amendment, reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of 鈥榮ubversive鈥� activity.鈥�

The city鈥檚 website that it is accepting applications from individuals and businesses for grants from money donated for hurricane relief. The says that by signing it, 鈥渢he Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement.鈥�

The city appears to be enforcing a recently passed Texas law that requires all state contractors to certify that they are not participating in boycotts of Israel. While the 老澳门开奖结果 does not take a position on boycotts of foreign countries, the organization has long supported the right to participate in political boycotts and has to laws and bills that infringe on the right to boycott.

The Supreme Court ruled decades ago that political boycotts are protected by the First Amendment, and other decisions have established that the government may not require individuals to sign a certification regarding their political expression in order to obtain employment, contracts, or other benefits.

On October 11, the 老澳门开奖结果 filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Kansas law on behalf of a high school math teacher who is being required by the state to certify that she won鈥檛 boycott Israel if she wants to take part in a teacher training program.

In July, the 老澳门开奖结果 sent a letter to members of Congress opposing a bill that would make it a felony to support certain boycotts of companies doing business in Israel and its settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. As a result, Senate sponsors of the bill are considering changes.