An SDLP councillor has accused US Congressman Brendan Boyle of "trying to punish those engaged in peaceful and democratic protest" by supporting legislation that aims to discourage the boycott of Israeli goods.
The Pennsylvania representative who sponsored an anti-BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) bill is due to give the John Hume Lecture at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal on Thursday.
As revealed by The Irish News, the lecture named in honour of the late SDLP leader will no longer be delivered in person after it was switched to video link amid speculation of potential protests by pro-Palestinian campaigners at the Highland Hotel venue.
The MacGill Summer School has faced criticism for inviting the second generation Irish-American congressman, who along with his brother Kevin Boyle, a state representative, sponsored a bill aimed at punishing companies that boycott Israel.
Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP have recently criticised similar Tory legislation, while Donegal County Council has implemented its own boycott of Israeli goods.
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Malachy Quinn, an SDLP representative whose motion led Mid-Ulster Council to adopt a BDS campaign against Israel, said "the right to protest through boycotting goods is a long-established and successful strategy".
"It was used against apartheid in South Africa, endorsed by the SDLP then, just as the BDS movement is now – it is now being used to make the world see the horrors that are being committed in Gaza," he told The Irish News.
Mr Quinn urged the Democrat congressman and advocate of Irish nationalism to "engage with the BDS movement, listen to our concerns and take them on board".
"From the civil rights movement in the US to apartheid in South Africa, international solidarity has played a massive role in bringing governments and institutions to heel," he said.
"Brendan's own party lent huge support to the Irish peace process, their international solidarity was vital to John Hume's success but now Brendan is trying to punish those showing that same support to Gaza – you cant have it both ways."
The SDLP councillor said Mr Boyle had been a "friend to Irish nationalism down the years".
"But his policy of trying to punish those engaged in peaceful and democratic protest has aligned him more with the Conservative Party than Irish nationalism," he said.
"If he wants to take a lecture named after one of the world's greatest peacemakers, then he should learn from him."
Neither the MacGill Summer School or Mr Boyle's office have responded to requests for comment.
