Background:
In 2017, after debates in both chambers of the Minnesota legislature, including testimony from many members of MN BBC and other organizations against the bills, the legislature approved two bills and Governor Dayton signed them into law. These laws (MN Statutes 3.226 and 16C.053) prohibit the state and the legislature from entering into contract with an individual who boycotts Israel.
During the debates the legislators tried to smooth out the wording to make it appear that the purpose of the laws was not to restrict speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, but instead to protect Israel from discrimination, but the revised wording failed at both. The laws are unconstitutional because they condition receiving contracts based on a political view (this was determined in a Supreme Court ruling NAACP v Claiborne Hardware Store). Furthermore, the laws do nothing to prevent discrimination. Discrimination and hatred against people and ethnic or religious groups are things that we absolutely and wholeheartedly condemn. We believe in human rights for everybody. But really, what does it mean to discriminate against a country? This is non-sensical.
We support many boycotts and divestment from companies and entities profiting from human rights abuses. We support efforts to impose sanctions on countries, including Israel, which commit widespread human rights violations. We know that Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) are non-violent tactics to pressure countries to end their human rights violations. We know these tactics work to bring bad behavior into the open and to educate people in our communities and around the world about what is really happening in Israel/Palestine. And because they are such effective tactics, pro-Israel organizations have been working very hard to criminalize constitutionally protected behavior in Minnesota and around the country.
Even though the laws are unconstitutional, they were enacted and exist now in Minnesota’s Statutes. We now have a new campaign to repeal the unconstitutional laws.
What you can do:
We have made contact with many of our state legislators and have found several House members and Senators who will introduce a bill to repeal those unconstitutional laws. Please contact your members (one Senator and one Representative) and urge them to sign on as co-sponsor, or to vote for repeal when it comes up for a vote. Go to this website and input your address to find your representatives. Then call those members’ legislative aids and explain why you think they should support repeal. To help in this, we have placed talking points here.
When you finish, please write a short email to mn@breakthebonds.org and tell us how it went. Be sure to name the legislator whose office you contacted, and what their reaction was.
Many thanks!
Your friends in solidarity,
MN Break the Bonds Campaign