{UAH} Can a Tax-Exempt Organisation Participate in a Protest Against Human rights Violations?

Last week, the leadership of the local chapter of Ugandans in Southern California (UCOCA) issued a statement that UCOCA would not participate in the protests against human rights violations in Uganda because it could jeopardize UCOCA's status as a tax-exempt organisation.

Several people asked me for my views on the matter. They specifically wanted to know if UCOCA's understanding on the law is correct.

My brief answer is that UCOCA is not entirely correct.  Although the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally prohibits tax exempt organisations from politicking, UCOCA may engage in certain public policy and election-related activities without jeopardizing their exempt status. e.g UCOCA can educate the public about political issues and encourage voters to vote.

Under the Internal Revenue Code and IRS guidelines/rules, UCOCA may issue position papers to the media and work with local coalitions or partnerships on issues of public importance.  The issue of human rights violations in Kla is a matter of public importance. Therefore, UCOCA could partner with the folks that orghanised the protest in Los Angeles. Clearly, that would not violate IRS restrictions.

thanks

p.s for those interested in a more technical answer, I can give it to you-including references to specific regulations and IRS guidelines.