IS BANNING BDS INFRINGING ON THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH?

Those who support the BDS movement claim that banning the boycott of Israel infringes on the First Amendment right of free speech

BarkGrowlBite
August 4, 2019

Ilhan Omar’s House resolution supporting BDS got the support of Rashida Tlaib, John Lewis, AOC and a number of Congressional Black Caucus members but was defeated by an overwhelming vote. Part of Omar’s resolution read, “affirming that all Americans have the right to participate in boycotts in pursuit of civil and human rights at home and abroad, as protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.” What Omar meant was that BDS is protected by the right of free speech.

BDS is not a matter of speech. It is an action that calls for businesses to boycott Israel and is designed to destroy the Jewish state.

27 states have passed anti-BDS laws that generally prohibit those states from using taxpayers’ money to contract with or invest in businesses that engage in commercial discrimination against Israel. Under the leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas passed one of the strongest anti-BDS laws. Makes me Texas proud!

Anti-BDS laws do not prohibit businesses from boycotting Israel.

Those who support the BDS movement claim that banning the boycott of Israel infringes on the First Amendment right of free speech. But in a challenge to Arkansas’ anti-BDS law, a federal judge ruled that it is constitutional and not a violation of free speech. And there are many Supreme Court decisions that allow states to choose whom they do business with and to exclude discriminatory actions from First Amendment protection.

Banning BDS does not prevent individuals or groups from advocating it. Banning BDS only prohibits local, state and federal government agencies from doing business with businesses that are participating in BDS by boycotting Israel.

Which brings me to the young Jews who support the BDS movement. They have been indoctrinated by far-left, Palestinian-loving professors or they want to cover up their Jewishness by joining in with the Palestinians.

And then there is the George Soros funded J Street, a liberal Jewish anti-Israel lobbying group, which opposes anti-BDS laws.

Count those young pro-BDS Jews and Soros’ J Street as among Israel's most dangerous enemies.

The BDS movement is really a cover for hatred of Jews. By seeking to destroy Israel, the movement wants to do harm to the Jewish people. And that makes BDS blatantly anti-Semitic.

Omar, Tlaib, AOC and the Jewish supporters of BDS have every right under the First Amendment to express their anti-Semitism. Oh yes, there are anti-Semitic Jews.

Banning BDS in no way infringes on the First Amendment right of free speech.