AKA H.R. 9495
On November 21, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 9495, known as the ‘Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.’ This bill is a thinly veiled attack on organizations working to dismantle oppressive racial, economic, and social injustices. This bill is commonly referred to as the ‘Non-Profit Killer Bill,’ and at the Detroit Justice Center we know this to be a chilling escalation in the rapid authoritative nature of what power will do to silence and police dissent.
The passage of this bill by a vote of 219 to 184 reflects the dangers of fascism designed to stifle free speech, censor opposition, and disproportionately target already-marginalized communities of color, particularly Black, Brown, and Muslim individuals, under the broad and ambiguous proof of “material support” for terrorism. This bill is part of a long history of United States legislation strategically designed to repress movements for equity and justice. Similar to past policies like the ‘War on Drugs’ and the ‘War on Terror’ which sought to target and criminalize marginalized communities under the fallacy of national security, this bill represents a modern-day extension of these oppressive strategies and underscores the efforts the United States government has taken to repeatedly manipulate legal frameworks against those who courageously dare to challenge systemic inequities.
Coming on the heels of widespread protests in solidarity with Palestinian people experiencing mass genocide, the Non-Profit Killer Bill sets a troubling precedent that should alarm us all: it gives the executive branch unchecked power to dissolve non-profit organizations under vague and arbitrary accusations, forcing these under-resourced groups to bear the burden of proof, with devastating consequences for communities who rely on these vital services.
The hypocrisy is glaring, as non-profit organizations in the United States were originally established as vehicles of white neoliberalism, designed to sanitize oppression while operating as tax shelters for the wealthy, using “charity” as the path to hoard their riches. Yet now, even these institutions are under attack when they challenge entrenched power structures. Surely, this underscores and reflects the deep fear that exists around the power of organized people, particularly when those people are leading paths to end systemic violence.
At the Detroit Justice Center, we see this bill for what it is, and we are not alone; we are unwavering in our commitment to resistance, and we stand in solidarity with the growing number of individuals and organizations pushing back against this bill. Regardless of any legislative body’s decision, DJC will not yield. Our mission is and will always be to dismantle systems that actively harm and brutalize Black and Brown people and other systemically oppressed people. This bill only strengthens our resolve to fight for justice, and we will continue to resist–no matter the outcome in the Senate.
We refuse to allow the state or federal government to dictate the terms of our liberation or silence voices advocating for equity and humanity.
Call to Action:
The fight against the Non-Profit Killer Bill, or H.R. 9495, is far from over. The Detroit Justice Center urges our community to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and oppressed communities everywhere and to take action. Thank you to the leaders at Muslims for Just Futures for putting together a template that all can use to contact their Senators, demanding they vote no to firmly oppose this legislation. Collective action is our most powerful tool against repression, and together we can and will continue to build a just future for us all; one rooted in liberation.