By Aaron Kesel
U.S. citizens in the state of Texas are being asked to support Israel if they want Hurricane Harvey relief funds, a move which experts are calling illegal, Houston Press reported.
The city of Dickinson is demanding its citizens sign a loyalty oath to Israel that states they will never seek to boycott the apartheid state for access to the Harvey Relief Fund during the application process to receive money. The city is using a pro-Israel state law to intimidate victims of a tragedy for storm relief by hanging a dangling carrot over their heads but pulling it if one of their citizens doesn’t support a foreign country. Let that sink in real deep.
The state law stems from a pro-Israel law, signed by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott in May, that prohibits the state from entering a contract with any business unless it “does not boycott Israel” or take action “to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel.”
During the time when the law was signed Abbott stated that boycotting Israel was anti-Texas:
As Israel’s No. 1 trading partner in the United States, Texas is proud to reaffirm its support for the people of Israel and we will continue to build on our historic partnership. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies, and we will not tolerate such actions against an important ally.
However, the legal trouble, besides requiring citizens of the U.S. to pledge allegiance to a foreign country, doesn’t end there. The Texas law specifically states that organizations are held to the pro-Israel standard, but nowhere does it state that individual citizens are. Nevertheless, Dickinson is requiring its citizenry to sign a no-boycott pledge if they’re interested in U.S. government grant money. In other words, if you don’t pledge allegiance to a foreign nation you don’t get government aid.
The contract reads: “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 ACLU stepped in to declare that the move illegal, stating it is against the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment, comparing the move to McCarthyism.
“The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to boycott, and the government cannot condition hurricane relief or any other public benefit on a commitment to refrain from protected political expression,” ACLU of Texas Legal Director Andre Segura said in a statement.
Dickinson’s requirement is an egregious violation of the First Amendment, reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of ‘subversive’ activity.
What’s more is that there are similar rules in at least 20 U.S. states that push a ban on corporations participating in a boycott against Israel. The state laws are a widespread response to a global campaign called the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement, (BDS) which exerts economic influence on Israel to force the country to stop building settlements on Palestinian land.
The ACLU further noted that the Supreme Court ruled decades ago that political boycotts are protected free speech for individuals, and governments can’t force them to sign certifications promising not to do it in order to receive public benefits or contracts.
Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post and is Director of Content for Coinivore. Follow Aaron at Twitter and Steemit.
This article is Creative Commons and can be republished in full with attribution. Like Activist Post on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube, follow on Twitter and at Steemit.
That is nothing less than Treason & Extortion. Every city employee, from the Mayor & City Council, all the way down to the city janitors, who have not publicly disavowed this disgusting request, must immediately be removed from their position, and those actually responsible for drafting this filth, must IMMEDIATE by indicted on charges of treason, as well as bribery, racketeering & extortion under the RICO Act. This is criminal in the most vile of ways. And any resident of goes along with this filth, quite possibly is equally as guilty, but at minimum, mindless fools.
You see how many genuine judges lining up to set in judgement as a RICO case is prosecuted against THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? Apologies for all caps there, it was done for a specific reason.
Oh its wishful thinking for certain, I have no delusions about who controls who. And no need for the apology. The reason is loud and clear.
Bds
I hope there is long line of people waiting to spit on ANY oath to support that terrorist state!
There will not be. If any choose that they may as well choose spitting upon the American flag, burning the original Constitution. America is as much a terrorist state as the next, perhaps more so. Do not get me wrong. I am a genuine patriot and love America. What I do not care for is the governing of America which seems to destroy what the original ideal/s set out by our founding fathers set forth.
The only thing that makes America a “terrorist state” is the fact we are in fact controlled by Israel.
dingdingding
The constitution in my mind came out of the long march to empire early on after we got the yoke of Britain off our neck. We were already what the founders despised before the first century as a republic was past.
To be honest, the “yoke of Britain” was never really off our neck as it was never really ON our neck. It was the Zionists of Evil all along. What would eventually become Israel controlled Britain after the war with France (and it was a slick move they pulled at that). Ever since, House Rothschild controlled Britain AND the U.S., especially after they brokered the Civil war. History is so interesting after you scratch off all the “white out”.
‘Legalized’ extortion is still EXTORTION!
thank YOU
Too close to the truth I have been time censored again. So much for freedom of expression.
Sounds like ransom and or duress.
I’d back Mexico before I back the Zionists !!!
I’m sure that the original BDS proponents did not intend as its goal the intimidation of private citizens.
REMEMBER THE LIBERTY!
That’s the problem with ‘laws’ – you cannot predict all the possible misguided applications.
Many do not even know the “Liberty” was a USN ship bombed by Israel.
The Liberty was attacked by Israel but at the behest of lyndon johnson, who was an absolute evil man. I Concur Remember the LIBERTY
Wow, how far the great state of Texas has fallen! Can you imagine any other state demanding loyalty to a foreign country before taxpayers funding for disaster relief can be accessed? I can’t!
What we know today as “Israel” began as an illegal land-grant by the U.N. to the constituent of Judaism known as David Ben-Gurion and his army of terrorists. Internationally-renowned Rabbi, Henry Siegman clarifies the terrorism done by Ben-Gurion and Judaism´s army in 1947-1948, initiating the land-grant of 1948. http //www washingtonsblog com/2014/08/prominent-jewish-leader-israel-intentionally-killed-civillians-1948-engaged-ethnic-cleansing-ever-since.html
Any such “law” violates the U.S. Constitution, and is as illegal as the hundreds of “presidential directives” that were implemented by the alias, Barrack H. Obama, disregarding the U.S. congress.
Texas congresspersons are wise to demand the immediate retraction of this fraudulent action.
Judaism is a religion, and no American is required to pledge allegiance to either a religion or the territory fraudulently named, “Israel”.
Thank you sir. Your comment closely mirrors the one I posted earlier.
Texas joined the Union as an independent nation which can go back to being an independent nation at any time, and I think that by making this state law, it has in essence declared its independence again by essentially making a treaty with Israel which is unconstitutional. I personally think that because of this it should be expelled from the US, which would also make it have to apply for foreign aid. Some years ago I worked in the research department of the State of CO mental health, and we wanted to have New Mexico join us in our research, which would have required NM to get it s own funding, so the head of the NM department of mental helth had to apply to NIMH for funds and he got the reply that he would have to apply to the State Department because NM was not not a part of the US. Texas has been all about itself for many years to the extent that it has become so much different that it has lost so much that it should have in common with the other 49 that it has now openly become a colony of Israel. Does it and its government actually realize how much NC has lost because of its crazy public restroom law, which , in it wisdom, Texas has also adopt, its its laws have been overturned more than any other state during the past 1000 years than those of .any other state, so it should be clear that it no longer belongs. How about a popular boycot against Texas, and its products and produce?
Well, that figures. Guess I’ll go on some watch list now. Earlier comment on this article did not remain. I thought it would be censored. Indeed it was at that. Not a problem at all. Be nice to see this site lose readership.
They don’t care if they do, if the Zionists control this site now, too. Have seen evidence thereof.
Lucifer is the god of force. This is of lucifer.
This does not sound legal.
This is a good way to get people to turn their back on Israel, by forcing them to support Israel.
The officials of the City of Dickson that drew up this ridiculous “law” needs to be removed from their position.
The Hurricane relief fund is just for that…nothing else should be needed to access those funds.
I call this an action to get people to turn their back on Israel as oppose to supporting them…a form of a False Flag!
LOL…Is this a joke? No disrespect to Israel, but since when does a foreign country have a right to dictate to american citizens their free will…in regards to their allegiance or any other matter. Is Israel supplying the relief funds ? Oh. it’s usually the other way around…And why isn’t the MSM all over this…unless they are part of it.!
I’ll disrespect Israel. I’ll rain down American feces on “their” entire country.
what the frig? Every time I use that “t” word when attempting to bring attention to (((their))) “holy books”, Activst Post censors me.
I can not believe I have to “dog whistle” when posting in here… this supposedly freedom-oriented forum
Oh… I used the “J” word, and got censored again.
“Hold on, this is waiting to be approved by Activist Post.” So tell me. Who’s in charge of the Activist Post “Thought Police”? Inquiring minds want to know. Is it you, Vin Armani?
libertarians censoring. WHAT HYPOCRISY IN HERE.
So their new slogan is Don’t mess with Texas…. unless you’re Israel??
Goodness gracious a whole lot of bending over going on!!
To hell with the relief funds.
Seems clear to me that the city of Dickinson and quite possibly Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott are domestic enemies of the state of Texas, and the USA. That they broke not only their Oath, which is a felony and Perjury, but the contract that they serve under, also a felony or two.
“A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to state contracts with and investments in companies that boycott Israel. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 10, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 2270 to read as follows: CHAPTER 2270. PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTS WITH COMPANIES BOYCOTTING ISRAEL …”
Those that serve wtihin our governments – state and federal are NOT to have divided loyalties to foreign nations while serving. Yet here is clear proof of divided loyalties, and the aim to create others with divided loyalties. Here is the REQUIRED Oaths to the US Constitution and the Texas Constitution – NOT to any person, office, agency, group, entity, foreign nation, etc
Sec. 2270.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: “IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I,________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of _________________ of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and lawsof the United States andof this State, so help me God. ____________________________ Signature of Officer
Section 5.08. Oath of office. Every officer of the city shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe to the following oath of affirmation to be filed and kept in the office of the city secretary.
“I, ________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office
________________, of the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States and of this State and the Charter and Ordinances of this city; and I furthermore solemnly swear (or affirm), that I have not directly or indirectly paid, offered, or promised to pay, contributed, nor promised to contribute any money or valuable thing, or promised any public office or employment as a reward for the giving or withholding a vote at the election at which I was elected, or if the office is one of appointment, to secure my appointment. So help me God.” State law references: Oath, Vernon’s Ann. Tex. Const. art. 16, §1.
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I love the USA and my state of COLORADO, that being said, that doesn’t mean I love our criminal cartel governments at the County, state or Federal Level. I also will support the nation of Israel as being a Born Again Independent Baptist Conservative, that being said, that doesn’t mean I support the Criminal government in Israel either, but THE LORD knows and those that continue the terrrorist activities will be found out.