CHRISTIAN LEADERS DENOUNCE THE RECENT WAVE OF ANTI-BDS LEGISLATION Laws that target Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a powerful tool for standing with the oppressed, threaten our constitutional rights. As Christian leaders we have long used the non-violent instruments of boycott and divestment in our work for justice and peace. These economic measures have proven to be powerful tools for social change, from strengthening labor rights for farmworkers to ending apartheid in South Africa. Observing the success of these efforts, Palestinian civil society issued a call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in 2005 to advance Palestinians’ long-denied rights to freedom, justice, equality, and self-determination. In 2009, Palestinian Christians included a call for boycott and divestment in their landmark document, “Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth.” Christian denominations around the world have responded by divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation and its persistent settlement expansion—both of which are illegal under international and U.S. law. In January 2016, the pension board of the United Methodist Church decided to divest from Israeli banks and a real estate company due to their financing of settlement construction in Palestinian territory. In 2015, the United Church of Christ overwhelmingly approved a resolution divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands along with, a boycott of products from Israeli settlements. In 2014 the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted at its general assembly to divest from three companies that profit from the occupation and in 2012 they implemented a boycott of Israeli settlement products. Friends Fiduciary Corporation, the socially responsible investment firm serving over 300 Quaker meetings, as well as the American Friends Service Committee, also divested from companies benefitting from the occupation. Israeli governmental policy proponents, fearing the growing BDS movement, have launched a well-funded campaign to suppress BDS. During the last two years, “anti-BDS” bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress and several state legislatures. Legislation introduced in New York, California, Florida, Iowa and other states would prohibit investing in or contracting with organizations that boycott Israel and “its territories.” These laws may threaten public funding for social services such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters provided by churches that have passed BDS resolutions.
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�CHRISTIAN LEADERS DENOUNCE THE RECENT WAVE OF ANTI-BDS LEGISLATION
Laws that target Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a powerful tool for standing with the
oppressed, threaten our constitutional rights. As Christian leaders we have long used the
non-violent instruments of boycott and divestment in our work for justice and peace. These
economic measures have proven to be powerful tools for social change, from strengthening
labor rights for farmworkers to ending apartheid in South Africa. Observing the success of
these efforts, Palestinian civil society issued a call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
(BDS) in 2005 to advance Palestinians’ long-denied rights to freedom, justice, equality, and
self-determination. In 2009, Palestinian Christians included a call for boycott and divestment
in their landmark document, “Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth.” Christian denominations
around the world have responded by divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s
occupation and its persistent settlement expansion—both of which are illegal under
international and U.S. law.
In January 2016, the pension board of the United Methodist Church decided to divest from
Israeli banks and a real estate company due to their financing of settlement construction in
Palestinian territory. In 2015, the United Church of Christ overwhelmingly approved a
resolution divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian
lands along with, a boycott of products from Israeli settlements. In 2014 the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) voted at its general assembly to divest from three companies that profit
from the occupation and in 2012 they implemented a boycott of Israeli settlement
products. Friends Fiduciary Corporation, the socially responsible investment firm serving
over 300 Quaker meetings, as well as the American Friends Service Committee, also
divested from companies benefitting from the occupation.
Israeli governmental policy proponents, fearing the growing BDS movement, have launched
a well-funded campaign to suppress BDS. During the last two years, “anti-BDS” bills have
been introduced in the U.S. Congress and several state legislatures. Legislation introduced
in New York, California, Florida, Iowa and other states would prohibit investing in or
contracting with organizations that boycott Israel and “its territories.” These laws may
threaten public funding for social services such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters
provided by churches that have passed BDS resolutions.
�
�These bills attack a non-violent, time-tested, and constitutionally protected approach to
achieving peace. The First Amendment protects more than “speech”: the Supreme Court
has long recognized that it also protects expressive conduct. In NAACP v. Claiborne
Hardware Co., the Supreme Court found that “the boycott clearly involved constitutionally
protected activity” through which the NAACP “sought to bring about political, social, and
economic change.”
We people of faith, representing various Christian traditions, are deeply concerned about
this wave of state and national legislation: It threatens our constitutional right to engage in
economic advocacy to end the Israeli occupation and uphold fundamental Palestinian
rights. We urge our representatives to exercise their considerable political power to halt
these misguided legislative efforts and to uphold the First Amendment rights of their
constituencies.
203 Endorsing Clergy From 37 States and the District of Columbia:
1. Rev. Fahed Abuakel, Moderator of the 214 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) 2002-2003. Atlanta, GA.
2. Rev. Catherine Alder, Ainsworth United Church of Christ. Milwaukie, OR.
3. Rev. Eileen Altman, First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, United Church of Christ. East Palo Alto, CA.
4. Rev. Dr. Tisa M. Anders, Founder, Writing the World, LLC. Lakewood, CO.
5. Rev. Philip Anderson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Washington, DC.
6. Rev. Dr. John Anderson, Pastor, St. John’s Presbyterian Church. San Francisco Ecumenical Peace Partners. San Francisco, CA.
29. Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Brownrigg, United Methodist Church. Santa Fe, NM.
30. Rev. David Bunje, Pastor Emeritus, United Methodist Church. Nevada City, CA.
31. Rev. Dr. Sheldon Burkhalter, Pastor and Conference Minister, Mennonite Church USA (Retired). Seattle, WA.
32. Rev. Bill Calhoun, Presbyterian Church USA. Denver, CO.
33. Rev. Pamela Challis, Lead Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA). Long Beach, CA.
34. Rev. John Chamberlin, United Methodist Church. National Coordinator, East Timor Religious Outreach. Vallejo, CA.
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�35. Sr. Patricia Chappell, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA. Wsahington, DC.
36. Rev. Sunmin Cho, Pastor, New England Conference, United Methodist Church. Stoughton, MA.
37. Barbara Clawson. Elder, New Creation Community Presbyterian Church. Burlington, NC.
38. Rev. Duane Clinker, United Methodist Church, New England Conference. Cranston, RI.
39. Rev. Ann Coburn, Priest, Episcopal Church (Retired). Episcopal Peace Fellowship’s Palestine Israel Network. Berkeley, CA.
40. Fr. Ernesst Cockrell, Priest, Diocese of El Camino Real, Episcopal Church. San Jose, CA.
41. Rev. Chad Collins, Pastor, Valley View Church, Presbyterian Church USA. Pittsburgh, PA.
42. Rev. Mary Kathryn Crom, Minister of Word and Sacrament, Presbytery of Lake Erie, Presbyterian Church USA (Retired). Espyville, PA.
43. Rev. Katherine Cunningham, Pastor. Co-Executive Director, New Horizons Associates. Board Chair, Kairos USA. Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA. Asbury Park, NJ.
44. Rev. E. Clifford Cutler, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Philadelphia, PA.
45. Rev. J. Mark Davidson, Pastor, Church of Reconciliation, Presbyterian Church USA. Chapel Hill, NC.
46. Mary Davies, Missionary, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church (Retired). Minneapolis, MN.