Ohio on Wednesday became the 12th U.S. state to publicly condemn the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
State Representative Andy Thompson introduced a resolution before the General Assembly which expands Ohio's condemnation of BDS to include denouncement of the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism being witnessed.
Citing a long history of friendship between the State of Ohio and the State of Israel, the legislation calls for increased ties and interactions in business, government, the arts and culture as well as educational initiatives.
Proclaiming Justice to The Nations (PJTN) Founder and President Laurie Cardoza-Moore applauded the measure as well as Thompson for introducing it.
“Due to the effective launch of PJTN’s anti-BDS media campaign, we have been tremendously encouraged by the response from state legislators and citizens who want to become engaged in efforts like Ohio’s initiative,” she said.
“As of current count, citizens in 11 foreign nations have also requested information from our organization about the introduction of resolutions in their respective parliaments. In 2016, Canada passed a motion condemning BDS in their parliament using similar language as the Tennessee resolution. Our office is currently working with a team of lawyers in the UK and grassroots citizens in Scotland to introduce the anti-BDS resolution in their respective parliaments,” added Cardoza-Moore.
Through PJTN’s strategic grassroots mobilization, Tennessee became the first state to pass an anti-BDS resolution in April of 2015.
Since the initial passage, PJTN “watchmen” (grassroots supporters) have responded in 47 states to join the movement against BDS and support the passing of similar legislation in their own states. To date, nine additional states have passed resolutions like Tennessee’s, with an additional 37 states in the process of introducing legislation.
In 2017, with the launch of PJTN’s “Campus Community Initiative”, PJTN has re-focused its efforts to stop the BDS Movement on U.S. campuses as well as the rise of anti-Semitic violence and incidents throughout the U.S.
“In light of the positive climate of support for Israel through the new Trump administration, we feel the strategic time is here as never in recent history for Christians, Jews, and people of conscious both across America and globally to speak with one voice in support of Israel, and against a growing global anti-Semitic agenda,” stated Cardoza-Moore.
“By working to delegitimize the State of Israel, BDS not only intends to destroy the Jewish homeland, but it also violates Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act as it pertains to Jewish students and protecting their Constitutional rights on campus. We will not stop until the anti-Semitic BDS movement is condemned globally,” she added.
Among the states that have passed anti-BDS legislation are New York, California, New Jersey, Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Michigan and Virginia.
In December, Nevada introduced a law against the anti-Israel movement, after Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchinson and pro-Israel activists introduced Senate Bill 26, which is similar to the anti-BDS legislation passed in other states.
Montana lawmakers in February advanced a bill that pledges solidarity with Israel by refusing to do business with firms boycotting the Jewish state.
