NJ lawmakers pass anti-BDS legislation

[Little Tich]

13. That's it, basically.

But to show you that I'm not just making it up, I'm posting an article from the ACLU arguing that Cuomo's executive order violates constitutional rights. I think that the arguments against Cuomo's executive order can be used against any law targeting BDS:

Gov. Cuomo’s BDS Blacklist Is an Affront to Free Expression
Source: ACLU, by Simon McCormack, JUNE 9, 2016

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order this week requiring state agencies and authorities to divest from any company or institution that supports the Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. The order not only threatens to punish constitutionally protected political speech but also requires the state of New York to create a blacklist of allies of the movement, which BDS supporters describe as an effort to ensure human rights for Palestinians.

“It’s very simple: If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you,” Cuomo said when he announced the order.

The directive requires all agencies and departments over which the governor has executive authority as well as certain public benefit corporations, public authorities, boards, and commissions to divest funds from any company or institution supporting BDS. The entities are also banned from investing in those companies in the future.

The order itself makes clear that the activity the governor wants to punish is political in nature. But, as the Supreme Court made clear, government can’t penalize people or entities on the basis of their free expression, and political boycotts are a form of free expression.

Read more: https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/gov-cuomos-bds-blacklist-affront-free-expression