[act-ma] Fw: Mobilizing Against Anti-BDS – June 10th

[Kevin Heaton]

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From: JVP Boston <jvpboston at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 7:00 PM
Subject: Mobilizing Against Anti-BDS – June 10th

Dear Friends,

Thank you for expressing interest in BDS and political advocacy with JVP-Boston, and/or your past involvement with the chapter! As you may know, an insidious bill entitled ‘An Act Prohibiting Discrimination in State Contracts’ (S.1689<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S1689>/H.1685<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H1685>) has been introduced in the Massachusetts legislature to inhibit the right to boycott. This bill is part of a nation-wide effort to pass state-level anti-BDS legislation. We need your help and advocacy to defeat this bill.

Despite its title, this bill is not about discrimination.  This<http://jvp-boston.org/10-reasons-anti-bds/> link explains just how insidious the legislation is.  There is a strong paper trail documenting its anti-BDS intent, including numerous statements by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), calling on its members to support this “Anti-BDS Legislation”<https://www.jcrcboston.org/actionalerts/> in order to “support Israel”.

According to the ACLU of MA, its “anti-boycott motivation calls into question the constitutionality of the legislation, even if it is neutral on its face…”

Jewish Voice for Peace Boston, the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, and Massachusetts Peace Action are spearheading opposition to this legislation. One hundred organizations in Massachusetts have signed on to the Freedom to Boycott Coalition to oppose the legislation.

The bill has now been assigned to committee (the Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight).  This committee will hold a hearing to determine whether it comes to a full vote of the MA legislature.  Our best guess is that the hearing will be in mid-July.

A huge grassroots turn out at the hearing is the best way to protect our right to boycott.

Please join us at a forum on June 10 where we will explain this deceptive legislation and prepare participants for presenting testimony at the hearing.

Mobilizing Against Anti-BDS Legislation
Saturday, June 10
10:30 to 1:00
Cambridge Public Library - Central Square Branch<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambridge-Public-Library-Central-Square-Branch/795172037234241>
45 Pearl Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

Please RSVP to this<https://www.facebook.com/events/1292885010779519/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22%5B%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22page%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22page_upcoming_events_card%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A%5B%5D%7D%5D%22%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D> event on Facebook – we hope to see you there! (And apologies if you have already received an email about this event).

All the best,
Noah

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Jewish Voice for Peace Boston