Virginia bills aimed at the failure of terrorists over speech fears – The Commonwealth Times

Encandrew Kerley., Contributing writer

Legislators have canceled numerous bills at the Virginia General Assembly, which the patron sake said would prevent terrorism, and pro-Palestinic groups said they would target protesters and suffocate the freedom of speech. The legislation comes after more than a year of propalist activism in campuses and camps that led to at least 94 protesters in Virginia.

The bills – aimed at “terrorism” in their texts – were voted either in committees, or they were not heard at all during the current legislative session.

The Bill of the House 2529, introduced by Del Michael Jones, D-Richmond, would limit universities from diversion from foreign countries that are no longer sanctioned by the United States, such as North Korea or Russia.

Student protesters called on VCU and other universities in Virginia to release themselves from Israel in the 15th months of protests after the beginning of the Israeli war in Gaza, according to previous reports of Commonwealth Times. More than 46,000 Palestinians were killed in the war, according to the Associated Press.

Students used similar tactics against apartheid-south Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. The VCU visitors’ advice officially voted to release South Africa in 1985, according to documents brought to light from the Instagram account archivation.

The bill was effectively killed and was not scheduled to hear before Crossover on February 4, when bills were approved by the Chamber of Delegates to move to the Senate for further inspection and vice versa.

A similar bill introduced by Del Terry Kilgor, R-Scott, would ban all public authorities, as well as businesses employing 10 or more Israeli boycotting. Bill Kilgor was never heard of either.

Senate Bill 1247, Introduced by Sen. Tara Durant, R-Fredericksburg, Would Have Prohibited Public Universities from Accepting Grants Or Particular s “unalinated” countries such as China and Venezuela S

In the hearing, Durant cited security concerns about Chinese intelligence and said the bill would prevent “sinister activities” in colleges in colleges.

The chairman of the Committee on Education and Health, Senator Gazala Hashmi, D-Richmond, said he did not agree, noting that the bill would dismantle training programs abroad and students to exchange students in mentioned countries. VCU offers training programs abroad in China and Cuba that would be dismantled from the bill.

Brian Turner, a representative of the Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Teachers, said the bill would have a “freezing effect” on hiring, cooperation for research and academic freedom. Senator Mami Locke, D-Hampton, said he agreed.

The bill was adopted by the Senate Committee on Education and Health with 9-6 votes. An identical house version of the bill, a patron saint by del Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, has never been heard.

SB 1284, patronized by the Senator Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, would ban terrorist groups and state and non-state sponsors of terrorism from college campuses physically and monetary.

In hearing, Stanley said the bill would protect the safety of students in colleges in colleges.

Representatives of the Virginia Human Rights Coalition, Palestine Justice Students at VCU and James Madison University, Virginia Student Power Network and the Virginia Muslim League civilian league appeared at the hearing to oppose legislation.

“This bill is a drilling of students and teachers who dare to speak against oppression, leaving them to be afraid of being labeled under the broad and prejudiced conditions of this bill,” Selma Iit-Bella, student by The fourth year sociology and a member of the VCU SJP chapter, he said.

The Ait-Bella noted that the antipartheid activist and former South Africa President Nelson Mandela was once considered a terrorist from the United States, as well as several other civil rights activists.

Seriene Hadad is a Palestinian student organizer and a third year psychology student who has a family in Gaza. She said she was labeled as a threat to just “she doesn’t want her family to be killed.”

Stanley said the bill did not seek to close discourse or dialogue. The bill was adopted by the Senate Committee on Education and Health with 9-5 votes. An identical house version of the bill, a patron saint of Kilgor, has never been heard.

The HB 1650, represented by Del Jason Ballard, R-Pearisburg, would create a reason for a claim and allow the General Prosecutor to investigate civilian groups with a “reasonable reason to believe” that they were dealing with terrorism.

Virginia Atorney General Jason Miyares Signed A Letter to Former President Joe Biden Accusing the National Chapter of Sjp of Being Linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jires in 2023. Or Palestine After They Held Protests on Vcu’s Campus That October, accusing them of providing support to terrorist organizations.

Bill Ballard has never heard of Ballard.

Jones, Kilgor, Durant, Fraitas, Stanley and Ballard did not respond to many requests for comment.