DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Tlaib" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tlaib</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ACLU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ACLU</span></a>, and advocates warn <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HR9495" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HR9495</span></a> could empower Trump to silence nonprofits and stifle dissent</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Progressives" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Progressives</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CivilRights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CivilRights</span></a> groups sound the alarm over legislation that could allow President-elect <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> to strip nonprofits of their tax-exempt status without evidence, threatening <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FreeSpeech" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FreeSpeech</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/democracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>democracy</span></a>.</p><p>By Alexis Sterling -<br>November 15, 2024</p><p>"The bill does not require officials to provide an explanation for designating a group, nor does it obligate the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TreasuryDepartment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TreasuryDepartment</span></a> to present evidence of wrongdoing. This lack of accountability has raised alarm bells among advocates who see it as a tool for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/authoritarian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>authoritarian</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/suppression" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>suppression</span></a>.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RashidaTlaib" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RashidaTlaib</span></a> Tlaib has been one of the most vocal opponents of the bill, particularly given its timing amidst heightened protests over U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Gaza" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Gaza</span></a>. 'This is authoritarianism,' Tlaib said. 'This bill is designed to silence dissent and give Trump <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/UncheckedPower" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>UncheckedPower</span></a> to target groups he doesn’t agree with'.'</p><p>"Other progressive lawmakers echoed her concerns. Rep. <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SummerLee" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SummerLee</span></a> (D-Pa.) called the legislation 'a giant threat to free speech,' warning that it would allow the government to “label any nonprofit as ‘terrorist-supporting’ without evidence or due process—opening the door to crush opposition and silence dissent.' Rep. <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IlhanOmar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IlhanOmar</span></a> (D-Minn.) added that 'no one person should have the authority to silence organizations that dare to challenge government policies or speak uncomfortable truths.'</p><p>"Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who is leaving Congress after losing his primary to a candidate backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AIPAC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AIPAC</span></a>), described the bill as 'extremely dangerous.' He cautioned that it 'will sink us further into <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/authoritarianism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>authoritarianism</span></a>. It is an extremely dangerous bill that would give the government unlimited power to stop the work of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/humanitarian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>humanitarian</span></a> groups and target political enemies. All without transparency or evidence.'</p><p>While the bill is widely seen as a response to criticism of U.S. support for Israel, its potential impact goes far beyond organizations advocating for Palestinian rights. Costello warned that 'the danger is much broader than just groups that work on foreign policy. It could target major liberal funders who support <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PalestinianSolidarity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PalestinianSolidarity</span></a> and peace groups who engage in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/protest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>protest</span></a>. But it could also theoretically be used to target <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProChoice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProChoice</span></a> groups, and I could see it being used against <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> groups.'</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/JewishVoiceForPeace" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JewishVoiceForPeace</span></a> Action’s political director Beth Miller described the legislation as 'terrifying,' emphasizing its potential to suppress civil society across the board. “This bill should be a five-alarm fire for anyone who seeks to protect free speech, civil society, and democracy. This is part of a broader <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MAGA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MAGA</span></a> assault on the right to protest that begins with attacks on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Palestinian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Palestinian</span></a> rights groups and is aimed at outlawing the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SocialJustice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SocialJustice</span></a> movements that fight for progressive change. This is part of a well-worn authoritarian playbook to dismantle fundamental freedoms.”</p><p><a href="https://www.nationofchange.org/2024/11/15/tlaib-aclu-and-advocates-warn-h-r-9495-could-empower-trump-to-silence-nonprofits-and-stifle-dissent/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">nationofchange.org/2024/11/15/</span><span class="invisible">tlaib-aclu-and-advocates-warn-h-r-9495-could-empower-trump-to-silence-nonprofits-and-stifle-dissent/</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/StopHR9495" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>StopHR9495</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CriminalizingDissent" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CriminalizingDissent</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Activists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Activists</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NonProfits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NonProfits</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CharacteristicsOfFascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CharacteristicsOfFascism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a></p>