On April 28 at 6:30 p.m., Oak Park Township will conduct its annual meeting at Percy Julian Middle School, in the common room, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park. Although the township’s annual meetings are not usually noteworthy, this year is an exception. The agenda will include a “yes or no” vote on the following referendum resolution:
“Do you support the right of individuals and organizations, including state contractors, to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel?”
This resolution will be presented because, under current Illinois law, the Illinois pension system is prohibited from investing in companies that boycott Israel. Illinois legislators are considering repealing this law. The resolution is intended to inform legislators of Oak Park’s opinion on this issue.
The resolution will pass or fail based on the vote of the registered voters residing in Oak Park who attend the township meeting. If the resolution passes, it will be placed on the November 2026 ballot.
Although the issue of boycotting Israel might not directly involve Oak Park Township, Illinois law allows resolutions on almost any subject to be raised at the township’s annual meetings. For example, several years ago a resolution to repeal the Second Amendment (right to own and carry guns) was on the ballot due to an affirmative vote at a Township annual meeting.
In my opinion as Jewish person, this resolution is not discriminatorily directed against Jewish people. Instead, this resolution is intended to stop policies of the state of Israel that grossly mistreat Palestinians.
A nondiscriminatory boycott decision is free speech protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Companies should be able to make those decisions without interference from the Illinois pension system.
I will be voting Yes on the resolution. I encourage you to attend the meeting to vote on this important resolution.