Elizabeth Warren Comes Out Against Senate Anti-BDS Bill
Image by Getty Images
Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced on Monday that she would oppose the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, becoming the latest Democrat to ditch the legislation over free speech concerns.
“I do not support the boycott, I think the boycott is wrong,” the Massachusetts Democrat said at a town hall meeting, referring to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. But, she added, “I think outlawing protected free speech activity violates our basic constitutional rights.”
The Senate legislation, introduced by Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, has run into trouble after the American Civil Liberties Union raised First Amendment concerns. It would ban American exporters from refusing to sell to Israel. It would also prohibit the Export-Import Bank from helping companies that boycott Israel.
The ACLU has expressed concerns that the act could lead to the sanctioning of companies who employ individuals backing BDS, leading senators like Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to withhold their support.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter, @DanielJSolomon
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
