Friday, March 7, 2014

Don't Let Illinois Block Pro-Boycott Free Speech

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Robert Naiman" <noreply@list.moveon.org>
Date: Mar 7, 2014 1:58 PM
Subject: Don't Let Illinois Block Pro-Boycott Free Speech
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Dear Daniel A. Stafford,  

As you may have heard, Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein has introduced a bill - SB 3017 - that threatens freedom of speech and academic freedom in Illinois, by punishing academics when professional associations they belong to adopt certain boycotts. This bill is opposed by the Illinois ACLU. (1) Similar bills in New York and Maryland are opposed by the American Association of University Professors. (2)  

Urge your Illinois representatives and Governor Quinn to oppose Senate Bill 3017, which threatens free speech and academic freedom in Illinois, by signing and sharing our petition:  

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Illinois-free-speech  

This bill would seek to block public universities from reimbursing faculty participation in professional organizations that adopt resolutions that support the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Regardless of how one feels about "BDS," it’s the First Amendment right of academics to support or oppose such resolutions, and it’s their First Amendment right to participate in professional associations that support such resolutions.  

It's striking to contrast how uncontroversial sanctions on Russia are with the notion that Illinois legislators would attack the First Amendment rights of academics to advocate boycotts if the target of the boycott is the Israeli government. I wrote about this striking contrast on Huffington Post. You can read and share that here:  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/russia-sanctions_b_4917854.html  

Thanks for all you do to help preserve and extend opportunities for people in Illinois to advocate for a just foreign policy,  

Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy  

References:
1. Letter to members of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Illinois ACLU, March 4, 2014, http://palestinelegalsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ACLU-IL_LetterToHECreSB-3017.pdf 
2. “AAUP Opposes Anti-Boycott Legislation,” http://www.aaup.org/news/aaup-opposes-anti-boycott-legislation
 


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