Texas City Demands That Hurricane Relief Victims Not Boycott Israel

The small town of Dickson, Texas, located in the greater Houston area, has come under fire from rights groups after conditioning the distribution of aid to Hurricane Harvey victims on their agreement to not boycott the Jewish state. The recovery fund, financed primarily by the municipality, is accessible only to applicants who verify that they “will not boycott Israel during the term of this [accord].” In response, the American Civil Liberties Union called the move a violation of the First Amendment and “reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of ‘subversive’ activity.” A representative of Dickson explained that the clause was included to comply with a new state law prohibiting Texas agencies from contracting with companies boycotting Israel. Twenty other U.S. states have passed similar legislation to this effect. Dickinson was one of the areas hardest hit by Harvey in late August, with more than 7,300 homes damaged and some 8,000 residents displaced.