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by Causes | 12.19.18

Texas fired a children’s speech pathologist after she refused to sign an oath promising not to boycott “otherwise tak[e] any action that is intended to inflict economic harm” on Israel.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on her behalf early Monday morning in a federal court in the Western District of Texas, alleging a violation of her First Amendment right of free speech.

Details

The oath was a new addition to public school employee Bahia Amawi’s annual contract renewal, and would have barred her from boycotting goods from companies not only located within Israel, but also operating in the occupied West Bank (“an Israeli-controlled territory”). The oath would likely also have prohibited her from advocating for such a boycott, given that such speech could be seen as “intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations with Israel.”

The Intercept noted:

“This required certification about Israel was the only one in the contract sent to Amawi that pertained to political opinions and activism. There were no similar clauses relating to children (such as a vow not to advocate for pedophiles or child abusers), nor were there any required political oaths that pertained to the country of which she is a citizen and where she lives and works: the United States.”

Context

The oath was included in Amawi’s contract papers due toan Israel-specific state law that came into force in 2017. Similar laws have been enacted in 26 other states, and are pending in 13 more.

In Texas, the bill’s language has been interpreted so broadly that the application for some grants for victims of Hurricane Harvey included a similar provision, drawing rebukes from local officials and the ACLU.

What do you think?

Should government employees be forced to take loyalty oaths? Why or why not? Would your answer be the same if the oath were to an entity other than Israel? Tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: Bahia Amawi)

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