Monday, April 29, 2019
US judge blocks enforcement of anti-Israel boycott law in Texas
Federal judge says boycotts are protected free speech, declaring the Texas law fails to serve compelling state interest.
A federal judge has blocked enforcement of a Texas law that requires contractors to certify that they don't boycott Israel.
In a 56-page opinion filed Thursday, US District Judge Robert Pitman of Austin said boycotts are protected free speech, declaring the law fails to serve a compelling state interest.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas filed the federal suit in December against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others. It argued the law forces people to choose between their First Amendment rights and their livelihoods.
Texas is among 25 states that have enacted similar bans on participation in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel's treatment of Palestinians. He said the statute "threatens 'to suppress unpopular ideas" and "manipulate the public debate through coercion rather than persuasion".
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5 comments:
How did these judges get such authority ?
Yet in Los Angeles, city contractors are required to certify that they don't support the National Rifle Association.
I'm okay with this as long as the government cannot ask whether they boycott them or not.
Funny that the leftist get to tell companies what to think. Maybe they should ask bakers if they have religious beliefs?
Any restriction on Free Speech and Lobbying placed by a government entity as a condition of doing business with that entity (LA, for example) should be challenged in court. It is absolutely a violation of the 1st Amendment for any government entity to restrict ANY speech.
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