'Weaponising anti-Semitism': Florida Senate passes bill barring Israel criticism
Opponents of the law, which focuses on criticism of Israel in schools, say the legislation violates free speech
Palestine and free speech advocates say the bill may stymie criticism of Israel on US campuses (MEE/Reem Zeitoon)
By Sheren Khalel
Published date: 29 April 2019 15:30 UTC | Last update: 3 weeks 4 days ago
A Florida bill that classifies certain criticisms of Israel as anti-Semitic has passed unanimously in the state Senate, despite drawing sweeping condemnation from Palestine and free speech advocates who say the legislation violates the United States Constitution.
The bill, known as HB 741, passed on Monday in a 40-0 vote in Florida's upper legislative chamber.
It was passed just days after a US federal court judge struck down a controversial an anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) law in Texas, saying it breached Americans' First Amendment right to free speech.
In fact, the Florida bill is one of several pieces of legislation in US states that would restrict criticism of Israel over its human rights abuses against Palestinians, as well as define those critiques as anti-Semitic.
'Freedom [of speech] is at risk of being thrown down the drain with this kind of legislation'
- Wilfredo Ruiz, Florida's Council on American-Islamic Relations
"In a nation where freedom of speech has been gained through blood, sweat and tears … we find that that freedom is at risk of being thrown down the drain with this kind of legislation," said Wilfredo Ruiz, communications director for Florida's Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida).
Poster Comment:
We know why the pogroms against Jews were initiated in Germany since Hershel Grynspahn, a Polish Jew, killed the Deputy German Prime Minister in France in the German Embassy in Paris. The Deputy Prime Minister also happened to be anti-Nazi.