Call your representative now - Don’t let Illinois penalize human rights boycotts of Israel!

The Illinois House and Senate may vote by Friday, April 24 on HB4011 and SB1761, respectively. These bills would prohibit state agencies and state retirement services from entering into contracts or investing in companies that choose to boycott Israeli businesses because of Israeli human rights violations, including businesses based in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in contravention of international law. These bills must be opposed in order to protect the right to engage in economic boycotts that reflect collective action to address a human rights issue, which the US Supreme Court has declared is protected speech and associational activity. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to penalize contractors for their political beliefs, associations and activities.

Call your Illinois Representative and Senator NOW and urge them to oppose HB4011 and SB1761.

If you don't know what District you are in, use this address lookup here:

http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx

You can find your Representative’s phone number here:
http://www.ilga.gov/house/

You can find your Senator’s phone number here:
http://www.ilga.gov/senate/

Boycotts of businesses that are based in Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian territory, or that profit from Israeli human rights violations are a means of protesting Israel’s occupation and human rights violations against Palestinians. Such boycotts have wide political support in the US and internationally, including by Peace Now (Shalom Achshav) in Israel and Americans for Peace Now in the US [1], Jewish Voice for Peace [2], the Presbyterian Church [3], and United Methodist Church [4] in the US. Any private Israeli entity that wants to receive funding from the European Union must demonstrate that it has no links to the West Bank. [5]

Urge your Representative and Senator in the Illinois legislature to oppose HB4011 and SB1761 by calling them now.

See the ACLU of Illinois’ statement opposing the legislation here.

Thank you for taking action!

References:

News & Updates

ILLINOIS: Urgent Action to Stop Anti-BDS Bills

Call your representative now - Don’t let Illinois penalize human rights boycotts of Israel!

Palestine Legal