Legislative Campaigns 2016
Virginia General Assembly 2016 - HB 1282
In 2016, Freedom2Boycott in Virginia, the predecessor to the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights, organized to oppose legislation in the Virginia General Assembly aimed at delegitimizing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a Palestinian civil society-led movement for freedom, justice, and equality.
What is HB 1282?
- HB 1282 requires the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to work with the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board to implement practices that are to ensure consistent business practices related to BDS and to determine how it could affect existing Virginia businesses and Virginia's ability to attract new investment and jobs.
Why did we oppose HB 1282?
- HB 1282 wastes taxpayers' money.
- HB 1282 serves no legitimate purpose.
- HB 1282 may lead to the development of an enemies list of potential government contractors.
- HB 1282 has a chilling effect on Virginians who support Palestinian rights and BDS.
What was the outcome?
HB 1282 was tabled in the Committee on General Laws and Technology.
Virginia General Assembly 2016 - HJ 177
What is HJ 177?
- HJ 177 expresses the sense of the General Assembly in the condemnation of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Why did we oppose HJ 177?
- HJ 177 falsely claims that the BDS movement is hampering peace and preventing negotiations.
- HJ 177 protects the status quo of Israel's oppression of Palestinians.
- HJ 177 falsely claims that boycott is not a legitimate political tactic, and we believe that engaging in boycotts to advance human rights is a time-honored American tactic to respond to injustice.
What was the outcome?
HJ 177 passed both houses of the Virginia General Assembly.