Sen. Claire McCaskill, along with 47 other senators (including 12 Democrats), is cosponsoring Senate Bill 720, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. The proposed legislation, described as draconian and unconstitutional, has been condemned by numerous civil and human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International, National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR).
The Israel Anti-Boycott Act seeks to criminalize support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and punish supporters by up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in criminal penalties.
BDS, inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, is a call by Palestinian civil society organizations to apply nonviolent pressure on Israel until it complies with international law and stops its violations of Palestinian human rights.
While taking no position for or against BDS, in a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to oppose the proposed legislation, the ACLU stated that “boycotts rightly enjoy First Amendment protection,” as affirmed by the Supreme Court. Further, the ACLU warned that “S.720 seeks only to punish the exercise of constitutional rights.”