Free Speech and Boycotts

Long ago, Americans were given the right to exercise freedom of speech and free petition.  We have the right to speak our minds on a street corner and we have the right to choose whether or not to participate in a boycott. A boycott, divestment and sanctions movement called BDS has boycotts against Israeli companies, events, and businesses. Based on BDS’s website, they are protesting the treatment of Palestinians by Israelis’. Right or wrong, they have the free choice to boycott. Sen. Marco Rubio wrote a bill that is under much debate. There is a provision in this foreign policy bill that would give states a right to punish companies that boycott Israel or Israeli-owned companies. Here stands the violation of free petition. Whether for or against boycotts, once our government allows states to punish Israel boycotters, freedom to petition is at risk. The issue of free petition is not an international issue, nor is it a conservative or liberal campaign issue; it is a First Amendment issue. Plain and simple, federal protection allowing states to penalize or punish non-violent boycotting is an encroachment on free petition. Whether one is for BDS or anti-BDS, it is a personal choice and should not be regulated by punitive actions by our government. But then again, it never really is about boycotts or Israel, but more about the state of affairs between and among the Democratic and Republican parties. 

https://nyulocal.com/nyu-student-groups-endorse-bds-7a7de79a6808