To get Harvey relief funds, residents of Dickinson must vow not to boycott Israel

[DonViejo]

Source: The Dallas Morning News




Claire Z. Cardona, Breaking News Producer

Applicants for Hurricane Harvey relief grants for the storm-battered city of Dickinson are asked as part of the terms of the agreement to not boycott Israel, a move the ACLU has called unconstitutional.

The city began accepting applications Oct. 11 for grants to rebuild homes or businesses damaged in the storm that made landfall Aug. 25. The grant money was donated to the Dickinson Harvey Relief Fund.

"By executing this Agreement below, the Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement," the form states.



ACLU of Texas Legal Director Andre Segura called the requirement "an egregious violation of the First Amendment" and said it was reminiscent of "McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of 'subversive' activity."

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/harvey/2017/10/19/get-harvey-relief-funds-residents-dickinson-must-vow-boycott-israel

[Honeycombe8]

1. Dickinson, Galveston County, TX. Article doesn't state who donated the grant money.

Looks like, by inference, it is the Governor's requirement. Gov Abbott, far rightwingnut Governor of Texas. "Anything anti-Israel is anti-Texas."

Looks illegal. But who has the time or can afford to sue? They should, if the funds are controlled by the government. If it's a private party, they have no control over the strings attached, maybe.

[xor]

10. Regardless of how someone feels about Israel or the BDS movement.

I don't understand how they can support this blatant attack on our freedoms. Whatever happened to the "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" idea?

[barbtries]

2. who put that in there?!

bad, bad idea. WTF

[Old Vet]

3. WTF.....Theres gotta be more information on this.

[B Stieg]

4. K&R (Richard Spencer isn't going to be happy about this!)

What were he and his Tiki Torch Brownshirts chanting in Charlotte?

Send this to Rachel!

[Moostache]

5. Three step solution...

1) Sign the stupid form
2) Take and spend the money on relief repairs
3) Give zero fucks and loudly boycott "Israel" because what the fuck?

First of all, how the holy hell does a relief recipient boycott a country anyway?
Secondly, dominionist X-tians can all follow the lead of the Heaven's Gate cult and kindly off themselves for us...go join your invisible sky daddy already, please don't delay, act now!

[Duppers]

11. Love it! 😂

Besides, that sick clause is totally unenforceable and unconstitutional. Doesn't that void the whole contract?

[jmowreader]

15. Not usually

The contracts we use at work say that if part of the contract is unenforceable in some way (like it’s unconstitutional, or just stupid) that part is nullified but the still-valid parts remain in force.

None of our contracts say anything about boycotting Israel, though.

[Initech]

14. I wish the end times worshipping Christians woud go rapture themselves already.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. Fine, do those things, but just let Trump catch you reading a Quran, ...

... and it's off to the fraud section of Gitmo for you!

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Sue, sue, sue! I hate fascism.

[MosheFeingold]

7. Apparently, it's against Texas law for the state to contract with antisemites

FTA:

"The language is reflective of a law passed in the last legislative session that prohibits all state agencies from contracting with or investing in companies that boycott Israel. The law, which is similar to laws in at least a dozen other states, took effect Sept. 1.

In January 2016, Gov. Greg Abbott met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and said that he wanted legislators to work to approve such a ban.

When he signed the bill into law in May he said that "any anti-Israel policy is an anti-Texas policy.""

[Purveyor]

13. So anyone that supports a boycott of israel due to their apartheid-like practices against the

Palestinian people is an "anti-semite"?

Interesting indeed...

[Loyd]

16. It's really Abbott's fault

and the legislature's. But I agree with your basic point: I'm sick and tired of those who criticize Israeli policies being labeled "anti-semitic!"

[They_Live]

8. like most of our Texas laws of late

it is destined to wind up in court and most probably be ruled as unconstitutional, costing millions in court fees along the way. Good job Abbott! Dumbass.

[Loyd]

12. To Whomever Drew This Up:

Congratulations, you have just given free ammo to Pat Buchanan and David Duke!

[Cold War Spook]

17. On June 8, 1967

my 24th birthday, I stopped supporting Israel.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. Six-day war? Were you affected?

My unit was fed, fueled, and ready to go, sitting on the tarmac, when the whole thing was called off.

We were never told which side we were going to support. It should have been an easy guess.

[Cold War Spook]

20. Yes, I was affected.

Being army, I was not aboard the USS Liberty when it was intentionally attacked by Israeli forces, but I knew some of those murdered since all military personnel with my MOS worked for the same agency. I would write more, but I can't because even though it happened 50 years ago my military and all other government files dealing with the military are still flagged.