Minnesota Anti-Boycott Law Repeal Urged by Activists at Capitol
Activists gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol to call for repeal of the Minnesota anti-boycott law, arguing the measure violates First Amendment rights. Members of the Free Speech Coalition are lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation that would overturn the 2017 law restricting state contracts for businesses participating in certain boycotts.
Activists gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol on March 5 to call for the repeal of state “anti-boycott” laws they say violate residents’ First Amendment rights.
Members of the Free Speech Coalition held a morning press conference while lobbying legislators to support two bills that would repeal the laws. The coalition, composed of more than 35 statewide organizations, is backing Senate File 3356 and House File 3258 with the support of Sen. Sandy Pappas and Rep. Kristi Purcell.
The bills would repeal a 2017 Minnesota law that bars businesses earning more than $50,000 from boycotting Israeli products or companies if they want to contract with the state.
“What we are pushing for is for these bills to go into law before the end of the current session. This is the first time in years we’ve had bills in both the House and Senate,” Free Speech Coalition member Bob Goonin said. “We’ve just seen broad crackdowns on protesters, all of which we believe are a violation of the Constitution. And, likewise, these anti-boycott bills are a violation of people’s constitutional right to free speech.”
Activists argue that boycotts have long played a role in American political expression. One well-known example was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted more than a year and ended with a Supreme Court decision declaring bus segregation unconstitutional.
More recently, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has called for boycotts of Israeli businesses and products in protest of Israeli government policies.
“The Anti-Boycott laws punish those refusing to relinquish their constitutional right to boycott anyone, including Israel and companies doing business in Israel, by withholding state contracts,” the coalition said in a media release. “The Supreme Court has ruled that boycotts are constitutionally protected free speech. State legislators have condemned the federal trampling of Minnesotans’ constitutional rights, while at the same time refusing to exercise their authority to overturn state-level violations of our constitutional right to boycott.”
The coalition also argues that the law’s origins raise constitutional concerns. Activists say the legislation was written with the involvement of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a national conservative policy organization.
Supporters of repeal point to the NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that political boycotts are protected under the First Amendment.
“Why is this law, which I believe infringes on the free speech right in Minnesota, allowed to stand? The Attorney General has told us the legislature has to request an opinion from his office on the constitutionality of the law,” Free Speech Coalition member Angel Dobrow said during the press conference. “Some have told us the special relationship between Israel and the United States is unbreakable.”
Pappas originally introduced SF 3356 in 2025, along with Purcell’s companion bill, HF 3258. The legislation was introduced too late in the session to receive hearings, but coalition members say they hope the bills will move forward during the current legislative session.
Pappas has said she is personally motivated to repeal the law after voting in favor of the original measure in 2017, a decision she has described as one she regrets.
“The reason why I am so honored to be the co-author of this bill is that it would repeal something very undemocratic, scary, and unconstitutional,” Purcell said during the press conference. “For me, it was a no-brainer. The world landscape has changed, especially here in Minnesota. I see boycotts as a tool. We live in capitalism, and so sometimes how we boycott and how we spend our dollars is a way to spread our message.”
Coalition members spent the day meeting with legislators at the Capitol in an effort to build support for the bills, describing the issue as one that goes beyond partisan politics.
“Regardless of your thoughts or perspective on Israel, this isn’t about that,” Goonin said. “It’s about people’s ability to boycott whatever, whomever they want to, as their First Amendment right.”
Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.