Illinois voters face anti-BDS measures

Residents in Oak Park, Illinois, and several other municipalities will vote on Nov. 3 on non-binding measures opposing the state’s anti-boycott law. The initiatives ask local governments to urge the state legislature and governor to repeal the 2015 statute.

The law prevents Illinois from investing pension funds in international companies that boycott Israel for political reasons. It was the first such law in the United States. Activists gathered signatures to place these questions on the ballot after a state representative’s bill to repeal the law failed during the recent legislative session.

James Loeffler, a Jewish historian at Johns Hopkins University, described the situation as a backlash against Illinois serving as a laboratory for anti-BDS legislation years ago. He noted that the state has become a site for renewed efforts to overturn the statute.

The measures appear in Oak Park, Champaign, Cunningham Township, Normal Township, and multiple townships near Peoria. These communities are not directly repealing the state law, which requires legislative and gubernatorial action. Instead, they are sending a symbolic signal to state officials.

Dan Goldwin, public affairs officer at Chicago’s Jewish United Fund, said local Jewish groups are mounting planned and meaningful opposition to the measures. He characterized the effort as a fight to defend the state’s investment priorities.

Jewish Community and Friends for Democracy, a local group in Oak Park, is organizing against the measure with help from the JUF. A recent communication from the group stated that neighbors hearing from their Jewish neighbors and friends makes a big difference in the outcome.

The ballot measure followed an earlier attempt by activists in Oak Park Township to pass a more stridently worded BDS measure by voice vote. That effort was defeated after local Jewish groups mobilized against it. Two Oak Park residents later filed an objection to prevent the new measure from reaching the ballot, but a follow-up lawsuit also failed to block it.

Oak Parkers For Free Speech, a local activist group, called the successful ballot placement a victory for democracy. The group said the board affirmed the right of community members to tell legislators that constituents want the law repealed.

Support for Israel has declined among Democrats since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Interest in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement has rekindled on the left. This context coincides with the upcoming votes in Illinois and more consequential divestment votes in Providence, Rhode Island, and Somerville, Massachusetts.

The state investment board currently lists 27 companies barred from Illinois state investments for boycotting Israel. Goldwin noted that the list includes Air Canada due to years-old news items about the airline dropping Sabra hummus. He said the airline has not affirmed it is not boycotting Israel, a lapse he attributed to oversight.

Jewish Democratic congressional candidate Daniel Biss supports efforts to repeal the state law. He said he does not support the BDS movement but believes government should not criminalize free speech. He described the Illinois law as very strange.

Rebecca Weininger, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League’s Midwest office, told local news outlets that the social impact of repealing the anti-BDS law will be catastrophic to Jews. A representative for Gov. JB Pritzker did not return a request for comment on his views regarding the law or the ballot initiatives.