ADC Denounces House Attack on Free Speech and the Right to Boycott

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act by a 237–169 vote, advancing legislation that would penalize universities that participate in boycotts of Israel or restrict students from taking part in academic exchange programs with the country. Thirty-three Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill, while Reps. Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson were the only Republicans to oppose it. ADC President and Legal Director, Jenin Younes, released the following statement:

“This vote is an outrageous attack on freedom of speech, academic freedom and the long American tradition of political boycott. The right to speak, organize, protest and collectively withhold economic support sits at the heart of our constitutional freedoms and our democracy. Boycotts have helped drive some of the most consequential movements for justice in American history, including the civil rights movement. These are not fringe acts. They are foundational tools of democratic participation.

The Supreme Court has held that the government cannot use federal funding to force institutions to surrender First Amendment rights or suppress disfavored viewpoints, and it has recognized the constitutional protection afforded to nonviolent political boycotts.

This vote reflects how disconnected Congress has become from the people it represents – the majority of Americans who are demanding an end to unconditional support for Israel and its genocide in Palestine. The First Amendment exists precisely to protect dissent.”

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About ADC

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the United States, founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk. ADC’s mission is to defend and promote the human rights, civil rights, and liberties of at least 3.7 million Arab Americans residing in the United States. Through its work, ADC fights discrimination, enhances public understanding of Arab history and culture, and partners with marginalized communities globally to advance social justice.