By COLlive reporter
The New York State Senate passed legislation that would stop State procurement from investment in businesses that boycott Israel and American allies, or that promote such boycotts.
Senate Bill S2492A would prevent New York taxpayer funds from assisting in the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) efforts targeting Israel and would require divestment from investments that pursue or promote BDS-centered goals.
The allied nations identified in the legislation include all NATO countries, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and all signatory countries of the Southeast Asia (1954) and Rio (1947) Treaties.
The legislation overwhelmingly passed the NYS Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 55 ayes to 5 nays, with 2 excused. The bill now goes to the NY State Assembly.
“I stand with Israel. New York State should stand with Israel,” said New York State Senator Jesse Hamilton, a Democrat who represents Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and parts of Park Slope and Gowanus.
“New Yorkers should stand against those seeking to attack Israelis, whether through the terror and violence of rockets, mortars, and machine guns, or through attacks on the connections that bond all humans,” he said.
“The goals of BDS including kicking Israel out of the United Nations and FIFA, and wishes to ban so-called ‘complicit individuals.’ Where would this end? Should certain jazz CDs be banned because of an Israeli drummer? Who is going to determine which Israeli is ‘complicit’?
“Ongoing efforts to delegitimize Israel, efforts to undo Israel’s 70 years of statehood, and efforts to single Israel out for unwarranted criticism and punishment across the international system have significant roots in anti-Semitism.
“This anti-Semitic hatred has a long, ignoble, and murderous history that is contrary to our fundamental values as New Yorkers and as Americans. If this legislation becomes law, New York will join states like Illinois, New Jersey, and South Carolina, who have forthrightly said they will oppose attacks on Israel and recognize the destructive impacts that would result from anti-Israel BDS efforts gaining a foothold.
“New York should speak up in both word and deed. As we invest and procure tens of billions of dollars from the private sector, we should say ‘No’ to efforts to destroy Israel, an American ally that so many of our family, friends, and neighbors call home. I call on my Assembly colleagues to take up this important legislation and demonstrate that New York will stand with our friends and allies against hate.”
1) In 1995, Rev Al Sharpton encouraged others to boycott Freddie’s Fashion Mart in Harlem because of white (Jewish) interlopers. ( “NY TImes trying to rehabilitte Al Sharpton, American Thinker, March 10, 2018, By Thomas Lifson) 2) Sonny Carson organized boycotts in Flatbush of a Korean grocery store in 1990. “Boycott Puts Korean Stores at Center of NY Race Strife”, written by John H Lee and John J Goldman, LA Times, 1990) Sonny Carson previously organized a boycott of a Korean Grocery store in Bed-Stuyvesant in 1988. Jewish students at city colleges should be able to attend Zionist – Pro… Read more »
JESSE HAMILTON HAS SUPPORTED THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WHEN NO ONE ELSE WOULD.I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO JESSE ,HURRAY.
We need to turn out the vote for Senator in September, his opponent supports Linda Sansour and his supporters are the anti Israel Park Slope residents, he is bad news for Crown Heights and Israel
When Jessie Hamilton was asked to speak to BP Eric Adams regarding reappointing Rabbi Jacob Goldstein to CB9 , he said he would do it and then “got lost ” when told to by the Boro President . Today Community Board is in total chaos with no District Manager for last 3 years as this is what the Boro President wants and Jessie Hamilton likes as well , if not why has he not uttered a word about this terrible situation . If you see him ask him why ????
Any others that we should vote for? And any that we should NOT vote for? We should know these things as Jews..
Senator Hamilton is one of the few politicians I truly respect. He’s a decent and honest man.
City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo was one of six council members who ABSTAINED on the City Council version of the anti-BDS vote. (Res 1058-2016A, NYC Council Minutes Sept 14, 2016, p. 45) An abstention effectively counts as a NO since one needs a majority of YES votes to pass. Four other city council members voted NO.
“As a black woman the fact that I’m here as a city councilmember is because my ancestors and the people before them had the right to boycott,” she added. Daily News Article by Erin Durkin – Sept 14, 2016,
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Sen Hamilton is a politician whose constituency includes a large Jewish population ( Crown Hts) and a large Asian population (Sunset Park). Sen Hamilton is not a sponsor or co-sponsor for this legislation. However, he should get credit for voting the way he did.
In the City Council, Crown Heights own Laurie Cumbo surprisingly was one of the few who VOTED NO to the anti-BDS vote. She compared the Civil Rights movement to the BDS (Boycott Divest Sanction) movement. Google it.
…and the nations will go by Your light.
We should thank Senator Hamilton who is one of our few true political friends. Remember he reps parts of park slope and other non Israel friendly neighborhoods he isn’t pro Israel because its popular… Lets give him our thanks.