A measure aimed at stopping a form of financial protest against Israel for human rights abuses passed the Minnesota House Thursday night. The “Israel Boycott Ban” bill — HF400 — would ban the state of Minnesota, including Minnesota colleges and universities, from contracting with vendors boycotting Israel.

The bill is a reaction to a national movement of “boycott-divest-sactions” (BDS) actions against Israel, which are meant to hold the State of Israel accountable for its human rights abuses of Palestine and Palestinians.

It’s also part of a larger trend in the legislature to outlaw or silence dissent.

Critics of the anti-boycott bill say it not only infringes on the first amendment, but it also forces Minnesota to take a foreign policy position on the conflicts between Israel and Palestine.

“I would have loved to vote for a bill that expands our ideals of fighting against discrimination, that actually stood up against all discrimination. I don’t want to be part of a vote that limits the ability of people to fight towards justice and peace,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL-Minneapolis) who voted against the bill.

The bill also had the attention of the ACLU of Minnesota which is concerned about state and local governments who would retaliate against protected freedoms.

“Boycotts to achieve political goals are a form of expression that the Supreme Court has ruled are protected by the First Amendment’s protections of freedom of speech, assembly, and petition,” said a statement from the ACLU.

Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls), the bill author, argued that HF400 was a vote in favor of Israel as an economic partner for Minnesota and against anti-semitism.

His sentiments were not shared by some members of the Jewish community who testified against the bill in committee.

“I understand anti-semitism. BDS is not anti-semitic,” said Andrew Berman, a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, who testified in a committee meeting against the bill.