5d ago

YSK that in the State of Arkansas , it's illegal to boycott Israel

sas.arkansas.gov /wp-content/uploads/Israel-Boycott-Certification-052324.pdf

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-06-22/appeals-court-upholds-arkansas-israel-boycott-pledge-law

89 comments

Considering that they have rigged consumer devices to explode, I think boycotting them is a very wise decision.
You should know, that's unconstitutional.
Edit: what the fuck is this appeals court smoking? "Money is speech... no not like that." So I guess every political donation that is not known to the public is also not free speech?
You cannot dictate what a business or individual spends its money on or why. Burn this fucking state to the ground and start over.
- They basically just ruled that piracy is legal for meta in their case about scraping Anna's archieve for their AI.
  The class divide is very literally getting baked into our legal framework. I know it's always been there, in an unspoken manner, but it's making strides in being letter of the law now.
- what the fuck is this appeals court smoking?
  A big joint labeled "AIPAC" that got passed to them in a Federalist Society blunt rotation.
  You cannot dictate what a business or individual spends its money on or why.
  You absolutely can and we routinely do. Just look at the embargo of Cuba, for instance.
  
  You can ban imports, you cannot dictate that I buy products from fucking Walmart.
  
  Well also keep in mind that the Israelis have our politicians compromised, not just on the Epstein stuff, probably a range of issues, and seemingly our CIA and FBI did nothing to stop it if not more likely helped them do it.
- *States
  Fixed it for you. You are welcome.
  
  Minnesota is in the same appeals circuit and deserves better.
- i really really wish that were true. were it, i'd have the medicines i need.
  
  Again, controlling imports is a long established power. The government cannot force you to buy from a specific business.
  Even if, for instance, a state requires that liquor be purchased at a state store, THEY CANNOT FORCE YOU YO BUY THINGS THERE.
I'm not even American but how would you even prove that? (eg. Not buying certain products..?)
- I heard about this a few years ago when I first moved here. It's only for government contractors.
  
  Ah, I see.
  US headlines are often misleading internationally so that helps!
  (of course one could read each article but thats hardly possible in total)
- The title is misleading. It bans state contractors from boycotting Israel, so there can be a certain amount of checking up.
  
  Thank you!
- Don't put words in the mouth of the law. We have something similar in TX. If you are a government employee you have to agree not to "boycott Israel". It doesn't say boycott Israeli products or companies. It says "boycott Israel" itself, so you just can't say that you'll never travel there.
  
  Why me? I reached to the (it seems wrongly worded) news.
  Try to be a bit more open minded to foreigners' questions please.
The headline you’ve written is factually inaccurate. They prevent the state from doing business with contractors who boycott Israel. It’s a very different thing. The state of Texas also prohibits its state employees from doing the same.
- Texas takes it several steps further. Victims of Hurricane Harvey had to sign antiBDS statements. Flooding a few months ago added a disclaimer that you recognize the right for Israel to exist
- And Kansas. I had to sign a document acknowledging it. I have no intention of honoring that contract.
Kahanist exceptionalism.
It's not just Arkansas, most states have antiBDS laws in place. Many of them do not allow contracting with the state, state employment, or receiving state disaster assistance if you hold BDS ideology.
- BDS?
  
  Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
Whether or not a boycott is protected speech is one thing (though I would think it is) but forcing someone to sign a pledge is absolutely compelled speech and a violation of the First Amendment. And from the dissent opinion on this most recent decision, it sounds like the law is ill-formed and overbroad.
If the government of Arkansas wants to not do business with contractors who boycott Israel, perhaps that's their right. Forcing a pledge is not.
Fuck Israel, genocidal scum!
So if deliberately not buying Israeli stuff is illegal, does that imply everyone has to buy a minimum of Israeli stuff? Or can they continue to not buy Israeli stuff, as long as it's without mens rea?
- Boycott and just be quiet about it
How can it be illegal to boycott something? You're required by law to buy things from Israel?
Hardly surprising from people whose family tree looks more like a circle.
- California and New York have similar laws
  Those in purple have anti BDS laws in place
- That's a really fucked up thing to say. I get it's a joke, but holy hell.
  
  Wait until you hear about Alabama
They'd have to shoot me and force my dead body to eat anything touched by an Israeli. Fuck Arkansas.
- See, this is where the vitriol crosses the line into wrong. Oppose the genocide, speak out against Zionism. But when you start saying shit like this, you’re just as wrong as anyone who says they dont trust, say, Black people to handle their food.
  
  You are nuts, comparing black people to the illegal invaders of the Palestinian territory.
- What's wrong with my Israeli friend who moved out of Israel 15 years ago and attends pro-Palestine protests?
  
  He's not your Israeli friend then. He's the same from whichever country you came from. He's okay.
YSK, that's not what it says or means...
So the state forces you to buy from Israel?
What a country.
- It’s for State contracts apparently.
America is starting to feel that yoke
- Starting? Shit ain't funny any more... Not that its ever been honestly
38 states to the best of my knowledge.

89 comments