ACLU sues Texas over law that says government contractors can't boycott Israel

[mahatmakanejeeves]

TreasonHat Retweeted

Someone needs to tell Texas that participating in or advocating a boycott is activity protected by the First Amendment

Link to tweet

ACLU sues Texas over law that says contractors can't boycott Israel

By Emanuella Grinberg and Janet DiGiacomo, CNN

Updated 2:41 AM ET, Thu December 20, 2018

(CNN) -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a state law that requires government contractors to certify they are not engaged in boycotts of Israel, the ACLU said.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of four Texans, argues the law "forces them to choose between their livelihoods and their First Amendment rights."

It's the second lawsuit this week to challenge the state law, also known as an "anti-BDS" law for targeting those who participate in "boycott, divestment and sanctions" campaigns against Israel. The BDS movement aims to generate economic and political pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.

House Bill 89, enacted in 2017, prohibits all state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. When Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law, a press release from his office said the measure showed "Texas' strong support for Israel" and declared that "anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies."
....

[still_one]

1. The OP should say "Government Contractors". Otherwise it is misleading. It doesn't

apply to private contractors

This is NOT being critical of the OP, but of CNN and other news sources that are not being forthright in what it says.


While there are arguments on both sides of this, the headline from CNN really should have been more accurate

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. You're right. It's in the first sentence of the text too. Done.

I had thought about putting this in LBN last night, but I had too slow a connection. I was still in the LBN frame of mind.

Thanks.

[still_one]

3. It isn't the OP, it is CNN, and other news agencies that are headlining it that way.

[PoliticAverse]

4. Participating in a boycott actually isn't necessarily protected by the first amendment.

It's actually illegal in the US for companies to participate in a boycott of Israeli products (See: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/enforcement/oac/7-enforcement/578-examples-of-boycott-requests ).

Additionally "secondary boycotts" are illegal under the National Labor Relations Act.

[X_Digger]

5. So if it's illegal, it can't be protected by the first amendment?

That's.. a strange interpretation.

The ACLU (and me) think that it's unconstitutional.

https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/rights-protesters/new-israel-anti-boycott-act-still-unconstitutional

Who I choose to refuse to do business with is none of the government's fucking business. How I choose to spend my money is protected expression.

[PoliticAverse]

6. I may think it's unconstitutional too, but until the courts overturn such laws (and they haven't...

so far) the law still stands.

[Going to Jackson]

7. Boo hoo

Oh, boo hoo. The Zionist persecution complex rolls on.