Florida SR 894 is on the committee agenda for today at 1:30 p.m. at the Knott Building in Tallahassee. The resolution seeks to express its “opposition to the academic boycott of Israeli universities and institutions of higher learning, and support of academic and political freedom and collaboration with Israeli universities.” No other action is proposed by the resolution.
The resolution is a response to the American Studies Association’s call to boycott Israeli universities- an attempt to reprimand Israeli institutes that the association considers to be infringing upon the academic freedom of Palestinian students.
SR 894 cites its support for Israel on the grounds that it is the only democracy in the Middle East. Yet this “democracy” continues to breach international law with little repercussion. Israel’s legalized system of discrimination meets the apartheid criteria as defined under international law, and the record of racism in Israel is long and documented.
The boycott is part of the grassroots BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) Movement, which seeks to pressure Israel into complying with international code through peaceful action. The movement has been met with a number of critics, but how else can we get Israel to come in line with policies that the rest of the globe must abide by? The United Nations does little to discipline the state, and continued dialogue has shown to be futile.
Legislation was passed in New York in January to ban state funding to colleges that fund organizations participating in the boycott, passing through the State Senate with a 56-4 vote. Maryland and Illinois legislatures have drafted similar bills. As of now, SR 894 does not call for any specific action against institutes participating in the boycott, but if it is to pass today, a bill proposing such would be inevitable.
Dima Khalidi, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Legal Support group and Cooperating Counsel with the Center for Constitutional Rights explains why such legislation is unconstitutional:
Painting the ASA boycott resolution as discriminatory is not only inaccurate, but also distracts from the fact that its purpose is in fact to protest the human rights violations for which Israel is responsible, and the discriminatory policies and practices of the Israeli government. These bills would be both a violation of free speech and of academic freedom, which the proposed legislation cynically purports to defend.
What can you do to help stop this resolution from passing in the senate? Call and email the Florida senators below and explain why you disagree with the resolution.
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SR 894 was drafted by Senator Eleanor Sobel from the 33rd District Broward County, which notably has the largest concentration of Jews in the state. Senator Sobel is also Jewish.
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