A Texas city devastated by flooding after Hurricane Harvey is forcing recipients of financial aid to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel.

The The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the clause on Dickinson city council's application form for relief funding violated free speech rights and was "reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths" requiring Americans to disavow Communism.

The city, 30 miles from Houston, was one of the areas hardest hit by Harvey. This week Dickinson authorities began accepting applications from individuals and businesses for grants from money donated for hurricane aid.

includes a clause headlined "verification not to boycott Israel". It states: "By executing this Agreement below, the Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement." The form includes a clause headlined "verification not to boycott Israel". It states: "By executing this Agreement below, the Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement."

The city's attorney said he was following state law introduced in May which prohibits public bodies giving contracts to companies that boycott Israel.

But Andre Segura, the ACLU's legal director for Texas, said: “The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to boycott, and the government cannot condition hurricane relief or any other public benefit on a commitment to refrain from protected political expression.

“Dickinson’s requirement is an egregious violation of the First Amendment, reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of ‘subversive’ activity.”

 The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey  







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  1/19 A tattered U.S. flag damaged in Hurricane Harvey, flies in Conroe, Texas Reuters

2/19 Lisa Rehr holds her four-year old son Maximus, after they lost their home to Hurricane Harvey, as they await to be evacuated with their belongings from Rockport, Texas Reuters

3/19 People line up for food as others rest at the George R. Brown Convention Center AP Photo/LM Otero

4/19 Volunteers with The American Red Cross register evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center Reuters/Nick Oxford

5/19 Soldiers with the Texas Army National Guard help the residents of Cyprus Creek Reuters

6/19 Residents wade through floodwater Reuters/Nick Oxford

7/19 Residents walk along the flooded roadway of Texas 249 as they evacuate their adjacent neighborhoods EPA

8/19 A man floats past a truck submerged on a freeway flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey on Sunday AP

9/19 People are rescued by airboat as they evacuate from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey in Dickinson, Texas Reuters

10/19 James Archiable carries his bike through the flooded intersection at Taylor and Usenet near downtown Houston, Texas EPA

11/19 A massive sinkhole opened up on a motorway in Rosenburg, a city 25 miles southwest of Houston, Texas Rosenberg Police

12/19 People are rescued from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey in an armored police mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle in Dickinson, Texas Reuters

13/19 People are rescued from flood waters from Hurricane Harvey on a boat in Dickinson, Texas Reuters

14/19 Evacuees are airlifted in a US Coast Guard helicopter after flooding due to Hurricane Harvey inundated neighborhoods in Houston, Texas Reuters

15/19 Evacuees leave a US Coast Guard helicopter after being rescued from flooding due to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas Reuters

16/19 Residents look on at a submerged motorway during a break in the rain in Houston, Texas EPA

17/19 People photograph the submerged motorway interchange EPA

18/19 Debris lies on the ground after a building was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in Aransas Pass, Texas AP

19/19 Dominic Dominguez searches for his boat in a boat storage facility that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey near Rockport, Texas EPA

The ACLU said previous Supreme Court decisions had established the government could not require individuals to indicate political beliefs to obtain employment, contracts or benefits.

It said Dickinson's application form was "unconstitutional".

The city's attorney, David Olsen, said the anti-boycott clause was required due to state law. He told The city's attorney, David Olsen, said the anti-boycott clause was required due to state law. He told ABC 13 the requirement would remain "until someone tells them differently".

Texas governor Greg Abbott Texas governor Greg Abbott signed legislation requiring all state contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel earlier this year.

"As Israel's number one trading partner in the United States, Texas is proud to reaffirm its support for the people of Israel and we will continue to build on our historic partnership," he said in May. "Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies, and we will not tolerate such actions against an important ally."