91177info | June 24, 2010 | 8:15

USA makes it illegal to give aid to Gaza! In Holder vs. Humanitarian Law project, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional law that it is illegal to "knowingly provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization," overturning multiple lower court rulings that the law was too broad or vague. This terror-inducing "material support" and "resources" includes, but is not limited to humanitarian aid and non-violent resistance tactics. Under this law, humanitarian assistance on the recent Freedom Flotilla to Gaza could feasibly be legally charged and President Jimmy Carter's quest for Middle East peace, which involved some communication with "terrorists," could have quite possibly landed him behind bars.

Supreme Court criminalizes speech in ruling on terrorism support law-

The US Supreme Court on June 21 ruled 6-3 in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project that the section of the PATRIOT Act criminalizing the providing of "material support" for groups designated "terrorist organizations" does not violate the First Amendment. The Court held that the law's prohibitions on "expert advice," "training," "service," and "personnel" are not vague, and did not violate speech or association rights as applied to plaintiffs' intended activities.

The case arose after the Los Angeles-based Humanitarian Law Project sought to provide assistance and education on human rights advocacy and peaceful conflict resolution to the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Turkey and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka, both designated terrorist organizations. Lower court rulings had found the statute unconstitutionally vague.

The New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, whose attorneys argued the case, notes that the HLP "sought to engage in speech advocating only nonviolent, lawful ends." But the government argued that any such speech—including even filing an amicus brief in the US Supreme Court—is a crime if done in support of a designated terrorist group.

Attorneys say that under the ruling, many groups and individuals providing peaceful advocacy could be prosecuted—including Jimmy Carter for training all parties in fair election practices in Lebanon. President Carter submitted an amicus brief in the case.