US court rejects case to silence pro-Palestinian rights group, USCPR

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
23 Jan 2024 12:28
2 Shares

The lawsuit, which targeted the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), has claimed that the group provided "material support" for terrorism.

Anti-war activists rally during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking for a ceasefire in Gaza in Washington, November 4, 2023. (AP)

In yet another significant victory for pro-Palestine voices, the Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit brought by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and several US citizens residing in occupied Palestine.

The lawsuit, which targeted the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) for its advocacy, including support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, claimed that the group provided "material support" for terrorism. The district court's dismissal of the case was unanimously upheld by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

This legal action is part of a broader pattern of attempts to stifle pto-Palestinian voices advocating for Palestinians' rights, most notably in the wake of "Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza.

In this particular instance, the accusation of supporting "terrorism" was wielded to discredit and dehumanize Palestinians involved in advocacy and boycotts.

Dive deeper

Various organizations, known for their efforts to suppress Palestinian rights, submitted briefs in support of the lawsuit, seeking endorsement from the Supreme Court.

USCPR's legal team viewed the decision to uphold the lower court rulings as a crucial victory for the movement and a clear affirmation that advocating and coordinating a boycott of "Israel" is not unlawful, as determined by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The lower court, in March 2021, rejected the lawsuit, deeming the arguments "not persuasive, to say the least." Advocates argue that this legal action is part of a wider campaign to criminalize and suppress the political activities of those supporting Palestinian rights.

In a press release, Ahmad Abuznaid, Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, said that the “USCPR’s message is justice for all and an end to funding genocide. There’s no lawsuit in the world that can stop us from pushing our demands for human rights.”

“We will remain focused on opposing Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people and pursuing justice and freedom for the Palestinian people,” he added.

JNF is an organization charged with acquiring and managing land exclusively for the benefit of Israelis, as per the press release.

It is worth noting that JNF is one of the Israeli organizations benefitting from the aid known as "The Return of Zion to its Soil," which has received half a million shekels in the past and is expected to receive an additional 1.75 million shekels later this year. Under international law, both settlements and outposts are considered illegal.

The JNF's legal action claims that USCPR is accountable for the launch of "incendiary terror balloons and kites" from Gaza onto "JNF-owned land" during the 2018 Great Return March.

The focal points of contention revolved around USCPR's financial support for the Boycott National Committee and its vocal endorsements of the rights and demands of Palestinians engaged in the Great Return March. During this event, Palestinians sought recognition of their right to return to the villages that Israeli settlers occupied in 1948. The lawsuit contended that these two activities constituted a breach of the US Antiterrorism Act, which prohibits the provision of "material support" for terrorism.

“The JNF’s prolonged and egregious pursuit of a fishing expedition to silence and intimidate urgent advocacy for Palestinian rights has been definitively put to rest by the Supreme Court,” said Diala Shamas, a Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights.

“The JNF’s accusations were baseless, as recognized by the district court, the court of appeals, and now confirmed by the Supreme Court. Now, as the government of Israel is carrying out an unfolding genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, it is more important than ever that activists be free to speak out without fear. This is an important victory, but USCPR shouldn’t have been subjected to these smears in the first place,” she added.

The big picture

The BDS movement has been at the front of the boycott campaign, particularly advocating against benefitting giant franchises such as Starbucks, McDonald's, Zara, KFC, Nestle, etc., which have not shied away from their blatant support of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The boycott movement against Israeli products has globally gained momentum, particularly in Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, significantly affecting major Western fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and KFC. The repercussions have also extended beyond the Arab region, reaching countries like Malaysia and the US.

Today, the boycott campaign worldwide involves browser extensions, dedicated websites, and smartphone apps that identify linked products.