An Arkansas newspaper has filed a lawsuit to stop government contractors in Arkansas from being required not to boycott Israel.
The ACLU of Arkansas has filed the suit on behalf of the Arkansas Times against the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College, after the University refused to sign an advertising contract with the Arkansas Times unless the newspaper signed a pro-Israel pledge.
The federal lawsuit makes the argument that such a pledge is unconstitutional.
3 thoughts on “Arkansas Newspaper Sues Against Pro-Israel Pledge”
A government entity has no business requiring an Israeli loyalty oath of those with whom it does business. Any law that requires such an oath is illegitimate and ought to be repealed forthwith. Think of the mentality behind this law. This is a clumsy attempt at thought control because the anti-BDS side has no counterarguments
Entities, both public and private, have always been able to choose whether to do business with other entities and individuals. I assume this involves potential advertising by the college in the Arkansas Times. The Arkansas Times is a well-known politically left-wing publication that objects to signing a pro-Israel pledge. It is its sacred First Amendment right not to do so. The college apparently has made a decision not to do business with those who do not support Israel’s right to exist, a decision also protected by the same sacred right. The solution is obvious: Both exercise their First Amendment rights and go their separate ways.
However Arkansas Times, like a junior high bully forcing another child to turn over his lunch money, seeks to force the college to do business with it, as opposed to other media outlets who presumably would gladly accept the advertising dollars.
Is the scenario changed due to Pulaski Tech being a quasi-government body that is funded in part by taxpayer dollars? No. If that argument is accepted, then any organization could sue any governmental body claiming a “right” to government contracts regardless political considerations. It boggles the mind. The federal government has a long-standing pro-Israel policy. The Arkansas Times, by extension, wants to force the government and taxpayers to help fund its left-wing ideology.
Let the free market decide.
What’s it got to do with the free market? This is about a government and its appendages trying to control thought and peaceful action, which is what any boycott is. Your argument lacks all merit.