Since 2004, I have fought for the election of Democrats at all levels. However, that support is now in jeopardy.
The Intercept reports today that 14 Democratic Senators and 63 Democratic Congresspeople have consponsored Senate Bill 720 and House Bill 1697 respectively. These bills would lay the groundwork to criminalize protest. On the surface, these bills criminally prohibit support of the BDS Movement, which seeks to boycott corporations which aid and abet the Israeli settlers. However, in reality, these bills are designed to criminalize protest. If these bills pass, what is there to stop the Trump Administration and compliant Democrats to pass future laws targeting supporters of Free Palestine, opponents of Donald Trump, or people asking inconvenient questions of GOP Congressmen at town halls?
I am particularly disappointed at Congressman Joe Kennedy for his sponsorship of House Bill 1697. I thought he was Presidential material after his “Act of Malice” speech against Trumpcare. But given his sponsorship of House Bill 1697, I am no longer convinced. What is the point of resisting Donald Trump if we turn around and criminalize speech that we don’t like?
This has nothing to do with Sanders/Clinton. And this has nothing to do with Israel/Palestine. I understand that support of Israel has been longstanding US policy. But this bill goes far beyond normal US support of Israel by seeking to implement Donald Trump’s fascism through the criminalization of protest. Silence means consent, and any Senators or Congresspeople who are silent on this issue thereby give their consent for the Trump administration to further criminalize your right to protest and resist.
As I stated at the outset, I have supported Democrats since 2004. I fought with Bernie or Bust types tooth and nail during the last election trying to convince them that our country’s future depended on the election of Hillary Clinton. However, given the support of 14 Democratic Senators and 63 Congressman for the criminalization of protest, that will change. This is one of these times where we have to put country over party. The First Amendment is more important than any political party.
Consequently, here is my new stance: I will not support any Democrat for President, Congress, or Senate unless they reject this measure legalizing fascism. I will support their primary opponents and I will support a 3rd party alternative. The First Amendment is too important for partisan considerations to come into play.
This is not just my interpretation of Senate Bill 720 and House Bill 1697. This is the ACLU’s interpretation. This bill would allow civil penalties of up to $250,000, criminal penalties of up to $1 million, and up to 20 years imprisonment for exercising one’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The ACLU notes that these penalties apply even if you were to request information about such boycotts.
We all make mistakes. If Congressman Kennedy, or any other co-sponsor of this horrible legislation is man enough to withdraw their sponsorship, I will be open to supporting future campaigns. The best people admit it when they are wrong and show the capacity for development as human beings. That is why, for instance, I didn’t hold Hillary Clinton’s Iraq War vote against her last November. But continued support of this bill to criminalize protest will alienate not only me, but millions of American voters on both sides of the aisle who care about free speech and civil liberties.