Current Events > states are making laws making contractors pledge to not boycott Israel??

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/aclu-files-lawsuit-behalf-arkansas-times-over-israel-boycott-law

The Arkansas Times LP has filed a lawsuit against the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees over a recent state law, saying it violates the First and Fourteenth amendments of the Constitution.

The law requires companies to sign a pledge to not boycott Israel in order to do business with the state. Contracts with a value less than $1,000 do not apply. If a company fails to pledge to not boycott Israel, it can still conduct business with the state, but at a rate thats 20 percent less than the lowest certifying business.

Alan Leveritt, publisher of the Arkansas Times, says the law forces businesses to take a political stance, which is unconstitutional.

You cant require a business to take a political position in return for being able to do business with the state. That should be based on merit, not your politics and not your ideology, Leveritt said.

Since it passed in 2017, Leveritt said the law had not been strictly enforced and the paper signed earlier contracts without signing the pledge.

Its been enforced very, very sporadically. Weve gotten these notices before and we just ignored them and everyones gone about their business, Leveritt said.
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Are you sure this isn't old news? I recall hearing this months ago.
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I'm sure it is old news that states are doing this, I just wasn't aware they were. This is a story about a company suing my state because we've had the law since 2017
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Balrog0 posted...

I'm sure it is old news that states are doing this, I just wasn't aware they were. This is a story about a company suing my state because we've had the law since 2017

Ah okay.

I still don't know what boycotting Israel actually entails but there shouldn't be a law to force people in there decision to boycott them.
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I thought it was already illegal at the federal level.
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1337toothbrush posted...

I thought it was already illegal at the federal level.

i thought it was that a proposed law would do so. from what i understand we have a law on the books that US companies can't be compelled to boycott by international forces and they were looking to strengthen it specifically for Israel.
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I don't see how this crap is in any way enforceable.
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Tyranthraxus posted...

I don't see how this crap is in any way enforceable.

The only way to "prove" a boycott would be if one is publicly announced.

KILBOTz posted...

1337toothbrush posted...

I thought it was already illegal at the federal level.

i thought it was that a proposed law would do so. from what i understand we have a law on the books that US companies can't be compelled to boycott by international forces and they were looking to strengthen it specifically for Israel.

Yeah, this source says what we currently have is to "discourage" and in some cases prohibit boycots not sanctioned by the US: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/enforcement/oac
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