[Peace-discuss] know people in Maryland? Stop sneak attack on rights defenders

Thu Apr 3 13:39:15 UTC 2014

Following our victory in Illinois on Tuesday (see CCR press release,
footnote #3), we're trying to help the folks in Maryland. Please do what
you can to spread the word to people in Maryland.

This is happening between now and Monday.

Folks in Maryland can find out if their state Senator or Delegate is on the
conference committee, and find their phone number, here:

http://www.freespeechfreestate.org/final_action<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freespeechfreestate.org%2Ffinal_action>

Here's one of the alerts we sent to Maryland today...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert Naiman, Just Foreign Policy <info at justforeignpolicy.org>
Date: Thu, Apr 3, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Subject: Maryland: Stop sneak attack on rights defenders
To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

 [image: Just Foreign
Policy]<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org>

Dear Robert,

*Tell Maryland legislators and Governor O'Malley to take the sneak attack
on Palestinian rights defenders out of the budget bill. *
Sign our petition<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>

A provision that defines boycotts against Israeli policies towards the
Palestinians as anti-Semitism (1) was inserted into the House version of
the Maryland budget bill without any vote or public hearing (2). This
language is not in the version of the budget passed by the Senate.

Help stop this sneak attack on Palestinian rights defenders. *Urge Maryland
legislators and Governor O'Malley to insist on the removal of the offensive
language by signing our petition at MoveOn:*

*http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Maryland-sneak
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>*

The two versions of the budget bill will go to a conference committee that
will decide the final language. The Maryland Senate and House will then
vote on the bill, but no further changes will be allowed.

A similar resolution has been defeated in Illinois. (3) Similar legislation
is pending in New York, Florida, Kansas, and the U.S. Congress. (4)

South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, a leader in the boycott,
divestment, and sanctions movement that helped abolish apartheid in South
Africa, has challenged the Maryland provision and similar legislation as an
attack on free speech in support of justice in Israel and Palestine. (5)

Maryland legislators and Governor Martin O'Malley should insist that the
offensive anti-boycott language in the House version of the budget bill be
removed.

Help stop this sneak attack on advocacy for justice by signing and sharing
our petition:

*http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Maryland-sneak
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>*

*
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=5&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>*Thanks
for all you do to help protect opportunities to advocate for justice,

Robert Naiman and Megan Iorio
Just Foreign Policy

*Help support our work -- make a $10 tax-deductible donation today!*
Your financial support helps us create opportunities for Americans to
agitate for a more just foreign policy.
*http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fdonate>*

References:
1. "Amendment to senate bill 170, as amended,"
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/amds/bil_0000/sb0170_92322801.pdf
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmgaleg.maryland.gov%2F2014RS%2Famds%2Fbil_0000%2Fsb0170_92322801.pdf>2.
"New Developments on Anti-Boycott Efforts in MD State Legislature:
Immediate Action Needed," http://www.freespeechfreestate.org/final_action
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freespeechfreestate.org%2Ffinal_action>3.
"Anti-Boycott Resolution Rejected in Illinois State Senate Committee,"
Center for Constitutional Rights,
http://palestinelegalsupport.org/2014/04/02/anti-boycott-resolution-rejected-in-illinois-state-senate-committee/
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalestinelegalsupport.org%2F2014%2F04%2F02%2Fanti-boycott-resolution-rejected-in-illinois-state-senate-committee%2F>4.
"Questions about free speech, anti-Semitism roil debate on academic boycott
of Israel," Renee Schoof, McClatchy, March 17, 2014,
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/17/221495/questions-about-free-speech-anti.html
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=10&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcclatchydc.com%2F2014%2F03%2F17%2F221495%2Fquestions-about-free-speech-anti.html>5.
"Statement from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on US anti-BDS
legislation," http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1502<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=11&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fnode%2F1502>

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 (c) 2014 Just Foreign Policy
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-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
(202) 448-2898, extension 1
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