Last week the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 legislative session began. For months now, the VCHR team has worked tirelessly on monitoring legislation and we have identified multiple concerning bills that are dangerous and will have serious consequences on the Commonwealth and our movement for Palestine if passed.
Virginia General Assembly
We are writing to ask for your support in defeating these bills. These bills take aim primarily at Virginia public universities. Attempts at repressing the movement’s protests against Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing, and oppression of the Palestinian people have failed. They have thus resorted to introducing legislation to amend VA code to intimidate, infringe on our rights and silence the movement. The bills also directly tie into anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim measures, legislation and action taken against our community over the years.
We have already notified coalition member organizations of all the bills and their dangerous implications, and requested that they ask their membership to take action. We are also working with national organizations for support in this effort. Please share this with other organizations, friends and family, and encourage them to take action!
What are the bills and how to take action?
The Bills (important information on the bills and how to take action in the toolkit below)
HB1650 - “Virginia Antiterrorism Act established; civil penalties”
HB2529 - “Public institutions of higher education; endowments; investment management; certain divestment practices prohibited”
HB2207 (Senate Companion SB1284)- “Public institutions of higher education; presence of or material aid or support to terrorist activities, organizations, and states prohibited”
HB2186 (Senate Companion SB1247)- “Public institutions of higher education; certain grants from and partnerships and agreements with foreign countries of concern prohibited; report”
*VCHR Toolkit* - It is very important to follow and take action for the duration of the General Assembly session. Please use the VCHR toolkit to follow important action requests and keep up with the status of the legislation.
Access the VCHR Toolkit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GT0RkJpW0eAe8aNUvBMiPhQtasobb-lyH9pOmCl0Qgc/edit?usp=sharing
Attend the meeting on Friday January 17th at 7:00 pm:
Going over harmful legislation
Ways to take action
Discussing Advocacy Days
Link to attend the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88203039240?pwd=sQ0s8MW43cGcdtkwWv16XEOlW5FvaV.1
Register for and Participate in VCHR’s 10th Annual Advocacy Days:
Advocacy Days Registration Form: http://bit.ly/VCHRAdvocacy25
VCHR’s 10th annual Advocacy days will take place on Thursday January 23, 2025 (in person), and possibly virtual meetings on Tuesday January 28 and Wednesday January 29. You MUST register to attend. Last day to register is Sunday January 19th by midnight. Please use the link above to register and please join us! No experience necessary
We look forward to your advocacy and we can never forget the people and the cause we are uplifting and advocating for. Let’s stay focused on the goal.
FREE PALESTINE - VCHR team