One of the biggest flaws with the “Vote No” argument is that it labors under the delusion that the Illinois pension law, as it stands, promotes justice, and prevents discrimination against Illinois’ vulnerable Jewish population. But as a member of that community, I, myself, reject that premise.
The current law puts those companies who fail to do business with Israel for the atrocities it has committed against Palestinians on par with companies that are sanctioned for: making profits off of “housing” migrant children; having ties to Iraq or Sudan; and being subject to Russian harmful foreign activities sanctions. In effect, the law makes standing up for human rights the equivalent to a very winnowed list of serious crimes and national security threats — and punishable as such.
On further examination, this doesn’t protect anyone in Illinois from discrimination, it protects only the financial interests of Israel and Israeli citizens. But what of U.S. citizens? Certainly the law must ban any company that would boycott the U.S. for political purposes and protect the interests of Jewish people in Illinois. No, the law does not sanction any business that protests the U.S. for any political reason. In no way does this law stand up for the citizens of any religion, of this state. Instead it’s egregiously biased for only one country — not ours. That engages unnecessarily in foreign policy, and it manages to violate the First Amendment in the process.
It’s time to encourage Illinois legislators to pass that act by voting Yes on the referendum. Only then will the law truly reflect an Illinois that does not treat human rights as a crime and instead guarantees First Amendment rights of Freedom of Speech.
Jacinda Bauman
Oak Park
