SHARE CU MAC applauds introduction of HB 2723, “Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act” in the Illinois House to repeal anti-BDS law in effect from 2015.
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, IL – CU Muslim Action Committee (CU MAC) applauds the introduction of legislation to repeal Illinois anti-BDS law from 2015. Today, Representative Abdelnasser Rashid introduced House Bill 2723, “Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act”. This bill will amend a 2015 law that placed companies that boycott Israel on a restricted list for public retirement fund investment. An equivalent bill is being filed in the Illinois Senate by Senator Mike Porfirio. The 2015 law punishes accountability, silences dissent, and creates a chilling effect on pro-human rights advocacy in Illinois, causing individuals, businesses, and government entities to question their ability to engage in Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS).
The Palestinian BDS movement is an international nonviolent movement against apartheid, modeled on South Africa’s success. Even though the 2015 bill is narrow in scope, the effects are far-reaching. Locally, Champaign City Council’s worry about the legality of divesting from companies accused of human rights violations, stemmed from the existence of this bill, despite it not applying to the situation. Even private institutions like non-profits feel the need to check with lawyers before even signing petitions or moving funds, because of the implications of anti-BDS laws like the one Illinois has.
CU MAC believes Illinois can do better. CU MAC member, Dua Aldasouqi, shares, “The 2015 law follows a trend of legislation and policies that chill pro-human rights advocacy over the past decade and especially in the last 15 months. We’ve seen the effect of the 2015 law on our work here locally. Champaign’s own city lawyer quoted that law to us when we proposed socially responsible investment of city funds even though the law only applies to public retirement funds.”
Amnesty International is just one of the many international human rights organizations that demonstrates United States complicity in genocide. For Illinois, this bill is the next step in ending that complicity. Amending the 2015 law to no longer mark companies that boycott Israel in its list of restricted companies demonstrates that Illinois stands for free speech and human rights. As President Trump works to engage in harmful foreign policy decisions, passing HB 2723 in the House and the upcoming equivalent bill in the Senate would show that Illinois firmly stands against his extremist policies.
CU MAC urges community members to contact their state representative and senator and ask them to support this important bill. You can find your representatives using USAGov: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.