(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/22/22) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the defeat of Virginia’s anti-boycott bill HB 1161, a measure that would have violated the First Amendment rights of state contractors and their employees by requiring them to sign contracts with a provision banning boycotts of Israel.
Feb. 15 marked “Crossover Day” in the Virginia General Assembly, the midway point of the legislative session where each chamber must have approved its own bills before the measures cross over to the other chamber. HB 1161 failed to advance out of committee and was not approved by the House chamber.
[NOTE: Similar anti-BDS measures have been enacted in more than 20 other states as part of an effort to block the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Modeled after the global South African anti-apartheid movement, the BDS movement’s stated goal is to pressure the Israeli government to end its occupation of Palestinian territory.]
In a statement, CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw said:
“CAIR welcomes the defeat of anti-boycott bill HB 1161 and thanks the members of the Virginia House Committee on General Laws who recognized that this unconstitutional act would have violated the First Amendment rights of state contractors and their employees.
“Bills and executive orders like HB 1161 are clearly designed to suppress Palestinian human rights activism within the state of Virginia and throughout the country.
“Every American – including state and federal contractors – have the First Amendment right to boycott making purchases from or providing services to foreign nations.
“Restricting the right to boycott and other expressions of free speech would have been unconstitutional. No state should be in the business of using government contracts as a vehicle for restricting the content of free speech.
“While the struggle to fight unconstitutional anti-boycott bills like HB 1161 continues across the country, CAIR welcomes this victory for free speech.”
BACKGROUND:
Throughout the month of February, CAIR urged members of the Virginia House of Delegates Committee on General Laws to vote “NO” on advancing the unconstitutional anti-boycott bill.
SEE: CAIR Says Virginia Anti-BDS Bill Violates First Amendment Free Speech Rights
READ: CAIR’s Comments to the General Laws Subcommittee
CAIR also joined other national organizations in a sign on statement that expressed opposition to HB 1161. Groups that voiced opposition to the bill included: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Center for Constitutional Rights Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC), Climate Defense Project, Defending Rights and Dissent, Palestine Legal, Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF), and Project South.
READ: National Sign-on Statement: H.B. 1161 Is Unconstitutional and Must Be Opposed
AJP Action and JVP Action also notably campaigned to defeat the anti-boycott bill.
In related news, last month CAIR welcomed a legal victory in its First Amendment lawsuit on behalf of an engineering firm, owned by Rasmy Hassouna, that refused to sign an anti-BDS loyalty oath to Israel as part of the company’s contract with the City of Houston.
In his ruling granting an injunction that blocks Texas from enforcing the anti-boycott law against Hassouna, United States District Judge Andrew S. Hanen wrote in part:
“The speech contemplated by [Rasmy’s company] may make some individuals—especially those who identify with Israel—uncomfortable, anxious, or even angry. Nevertheless, speech—even speech that upsets other segments of the population—is protected by the First Amendment unless it escalates into violence and misconduct.”
Judge Hanen added: “The Court does find that Hassouna authentically holds a pro-Palestinian point of view that is protected by the First Amendment.”
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Federal Judge’s Ruling That Texas Anti-BDS Law Violates Client’s Free Speech Rights
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La ission de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected] CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]