The Journal recently reported (Sept. 2) that a newly-minted organization, Oak Park Neighbors United (OPNU), is urging “No” votes in the Nov. 3 referendum. The referendum asks whether Illinois should repeal statutes banning certain state pension investments in, and state contracts with, economic boycotters of the Israeli state. The OPNU spokesperson complains that the referendum is a distraction from other issues, but OPNU’s claims are the distraction. None address the substance of the referendum.
People and their businesses boycott the state of Israel because of its heinous campaign of (pick one or more) genocide, mass killing, ethnic cleansing, land theft, occupation, war crimes, crimes against humanity and/or utter disregard of human rights and UN resolutions, in (pick one or more) Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and/or Iran. But Illinois, through two statutes*, currently penalizes those boycotters by refusing to invest in their enterprises or contract for their services. Should our state end those policies? Or should it continue punishing people hoping to stop Israel’s years-long brutality by withholding their economic support? That’s what this referendum is about.
OPNU’s spokesperson says it’s just about “the Middle East” and federal policy and not something for our community to address. But state of Illinois’ current law actively and expressly picks a side in the Middle East, with laws and investigation and enforcement mechanisms funded by Oak Park taxpayers. So by OPNU’s own logic, since our state has no formal control over federal foreign policy, shouldn’t it repeal the laws addressed by the referendum? That’s precisely what the referendum’s supporters are asking, not because Oak Parkers can directly constrain Israel’s wanton behavior, but because we want our state to stop supporting that dreadful behavior through its laws.
The OPNU spokesperson also laments that this is “a very divisive issue.” Aren’t all issues “divisive” inherently? People have different opinions, just as we have in Oak Park regarding the very issues OPNU says we’re distracted from by the referendum (zoning, housing affordability, etc.).
OPNU’s spokesperson additionally charges that the referendum is discriminatory and “calls out Oak Park Jewish neighbors.” Huh? The referendum “calls out” no one. It’s a single sentence challenging state laws designed to discourage economic pressure on a rogue nation. OPNU even asserts that the referendum contravenes Oak Park’s “welcoming village ordinance that rejects discrimination based on national origin.” Again, huh? Our family is Jewish and our “national origin” is the U.S. By erroneously placing the “national origin” of American Jews in Israel, OPNU regrettably gives life to the antisemitic canard of Jewish “dual loyalty.” Ironic, since the likely reason OPNU name-calls the referendum “discriminatory” is to exploit voters’ fears of appearing antisemitic.
Don’t be fooled. Oak Park taxpayers are currently required to fund the policy, investigation and enforcement provisions in those laws, effectively abetting the victimizer instead of helping the victims. A “No” vote will suggest that’s just fine with us. A “Yes” vote will tell our Springfield representatives that Oak Park has had enough of that.
Footnote:
*40 ILCS 5/1-110.16 (pension investments) and 30 ILCS 582/1 (state contracts). The first of these establishes the Illinois Investment Policy Board and imposes a host of duties on that board and the state’s multiple retirement systems. The second law concerns state contracts with parties who contravene particular federal anti-boycott law and regulation.
David Gilbert is an Oak Park resident.