Should the state of Illinois repeal laws that ban state investment in businesses that boycott the state of Israel?
Oak Park voters made their voices known Tuesday regarding that often contentious question by approving an advisory referendum by a margin of over 30 percentage points.
As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, with all 32 precincts reporting, “yes” votes outpaced “no” 65.36% to 34.64%. More than 22,000 ballots were cast in the village; 14,562 supported the referendum, 7,716 did not. Results are unofficial until certified by Cook County.
Bills in the state Senate and House of Representatives that would amend the Illinois Pension Code to remove the requirement to include businesses that boycott Israel on its list of restricted companies for investment has been a hot topic for months ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Referendum supporters say Oak Park state pensioners have lost millions due to the advent of the 2015 law under former Gov. Bruce Rauner that instituted the requirement to bar pension fund investment in companies that boycott or divest from Israel for any reason, including human rights concerns.
I’m so energized,” said Caren Van Slyke of Oak Parkers for Free Speech, which promoted the referendum, at a post-election party at Bobby’s Eastside in Forest Park. “I think we were able to speak to thousands of people in Oak Park to explain why this law has to be repealed and to tell our legislators that they have to support repealing this law.”
Van Slyke said that on Wednesday she was planning to reach out to state Sen. Don Harmon’s office along with other legislators to encourage them to move the bills forward.
Meanwhile, at a post-election gathering at a private residence, members of Oak Park Neighbors United, which opposed the referendum, watched the results online come through with intense interest.
In the end, though, spokesman Mark Segal distributed a statement from the group’s steering committee to Wednesday Journal conceding the referendum.
“Oak Park Neighbors United is disappointed by the passage of this divisive advisory boycott referendum,” the statement said. “We thank the many voters who voted ‘no,’ our dedicated campaign workers, the Jewish community and our many community allies, including 11 current and former village trustees.
“We are sad that this referendum has been so divisive and painful to many in our community, including Palestinian-Americans, Muslims, Israeli Americans and Jews.”
At polling locations Tuesday, the feelings about the referendum were mixed.
Larry, who declined to provide his last name, was still considering his vote before entering Hatch Elementary School in the late afternoon.
“I haven’t decided, actually,” he said. “We’re a municipality in Illinois and this vote would show our representatives downstate and nationally that this is what Oak Park’s perspective is. For me, we are sort of so far removed from the situation (in the Middle East), how much influence can we really have to influence state officials?”
Over at Beye Elementary School, Belle Weyler said she hadn’t heard much about the referendum ahead of election day but did online research to get up to speed.
She voted yes.
“I think that it falls under freedom of expression,” she said. “In my opinion, businesses should be able to boycott, or not. Whatever they feel like, they should be able to without interference from the state or government.”