A new resolution passed by the California State Assembly attempts to
limit criticism of Israeli policy on college campuses by equating it with
anti-Semitic hate speech.
The law urges “California
colleges and universities to squelch nascent anti-Semitism” and
“encourages university leaders to combat a wide array of anti-Jewish and
anti-Israel actions”, according to
the Associated Press.
The Assembly’s actions also drew criticism from
free speech advocates. Carlos Villarreal, director of the San Francisco chapter
of the National Lawyers Guild, called the resolution irresponsible and dangerous
because it combines legitimate condemnations of acts of intimidation and hate
with specific objections to tactics used to support the Palestinian people.
“In doing
so, it can be seen as having no other purpose than to demonize all those who
criticize the nation-state of Israel or support the rights of the Palestinian
people”, he said.
Typically, those who want to suppress free speech criticisms of
Israeli crimes are relegated to the tools of social ostracism or return
criticism - you know, because of that First Amendment thing. The cry of
anti-Semitism has been successful in this respect, unfortunately. This bill, by
contrast, attempts to codify into law an obligation to “squelch” activism and speech objecting to Israeli
government actions. Antiwar.com
California Assembly members indicated the University of California
and other public universities should crack down on demonstrations against Israel
on their campuses. Democraticunderground.com There was no debate by lawmakers prior to approval, nor was Israel
even mentioned during the introduction of the resolution. Mondoweiss.net The resolution was opposed by a wide variety of groups, including the
Center for Constitutional Rights, the Asian Law Caucus, Jewish Voice for Peace,
and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, yet the Republican-sponsored
measure received wide bipartisan support in the Democratic-controlled
legislature. Huffington Post Some of the lawmakers who signed on as co-authors when the resolution
was called on the floor seemed surprised to later learn of the references to
Israel. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, was one of the few who did not
support it. “Ignorance reigns up
here”, he said.
Democraticunderground.com
ISH/DB
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