TAKE ACTION: This bill could give a president unprecedented authority to shut down nonprofit organizations for good

H.R. 6408/S. 4136 would give future Presidents alarming new powers to essentially target and shut down nonprofit groups in the name of security — with virtually no oversight.

As salaamu alaykum, Indiana Jones—

At a time of unprecedented activism for Palestine, some Members of Congress have been working to pass an extremely dangerous piece of legislation aimed at chilling dissent.

And if we don't act soon, Congress could pass it quickly and quietly.

H.R. 6408/S. 4136 is a bill that could give President Biden — or a future President Trump — unchecked power to target and shut down nonprofit and activist groups.

We need to act now, Indiana Jones. Tell your Members of Congress to protect the right to dissent and oppose H.R. 6408/S. 4136's inclusion in any must-pass legislation.

House legislation intended to target and strip the tax-exempt status of organizations advocating for Palestinian human rights passed with very little opposition. The Senate refused to take it up.

But now, some Members of Congress want to attach the legislative language of H.R. 6408/S. 4136 to "must-pass" bills.

We can't let that happen.

This bill would give future presidents alarming new powers to target and shut down nonprofit groups in the name of security — with virtually no oversight.

Our communities have seen firsthand the kind of abuses that prosecutors and Presidential administrations can unleash against everyday people of conscience using similar tools.¹

We can only imagine the effects that could be unleashed on student activist groups and nonprofits advocating for Palestinian human rights if a future administration decides to use this expanded power to target them.

We can't let protesters taking immense risks to speak out for Palestine bear the brunt of this kind of federal crackdown on activist speech.

We can not allow this precedent to chill advocacy for Palestinians in Gaza, who are facing a living nightmare.

We need to take action now and ensure we don't hand over more power over our ability to speak up against genocide.

Take Action Now.

In solidarity,

Yasmine and the team at MPower Action

P.S. Want to help build Muslim political power this electoral season? Donate to  MPower Action Fund.

 

Source:

1. " Illusion of Justice: Human Rights Abuses in US Terrorism Prosecutions," Human Rights Watch, Jul. 21, 2014.

MPower Action is the political and lobbying arm of MPower Change, a grassroots movement of diverse Muslim communities working together to build social, spiritual, racial, and economic justice for all people.

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