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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIO N 19
November 7, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives M URPHY, S. JOHNSON,
ARMSTRONG, BODDEN, BRANDTJEN, DITTRICH, DONOVAN, GOEBEN, GUNDRUM,
MAXEY, MICHALSKI, O'CONNOR, RETTINGER and SCHRAA. Referred to Committee
on Rules.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Relating to: condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and
condemning the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism.
Whereas, the citizens of Wisconsin have a history of standing against bigotry,
oppression, discrimination, and injustice; and
Whereas, the State of Wisconsin and Israel have a long history of friendship and
are great allies in support of each other's interests; and
Whereas, the State of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, is the
greatest friend and ally of the United States in the Middle East; and
Whereas, Wisconsin is committed to increasing the ties and interactions in
business, government, the arts, culture, and education between the State of
Wisconsin and the State of Israel, further strengthening the historic ties between our
state and that country; and
Whereas, ties between Wisconsin's and Israel's academic, research, business,
and nonprofit communities are both robust and longstanding; and
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Whereas, the elected representatives of Wisconsin recognize the importance of
expressing their unabridged support for the Jewish people and the State of Israel's
right to exist and thrive, and their unabridged support for Israel's right of
self-defense; and
Whereas, there are increasing incidents of anti-Semitism around the world,
including across the United States and in Wisconsin, including the desecration of
Jewish religious sites; and
Whereas, the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is
one of the main vehicles for legitimizing anti-Semitism on campus and advocating
for the elimination of the Jewish State; and
Whereas, anti-Israel activities and activities promoting the Boycott,
Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel are widespread in the State of
Wisconsin, including on several university campuses and in other Wisconsin
communities, and contribute to anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic propaganda and
threats to both American and Israeli Jewish students, and result in deliberate
interference with the learning environment of all students; and
Whereas, the dramatic increase in Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
campaign activities on college campuses around the country has resulted in
increased animosity and intimidation against Jewish students, negatively
impacting student programming of vital importance to all American students related
to the State of Israel and politics in the Middle East; and
Whereas, leaders of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement say
their goal is to eliminate Israel as the home of the Jewish people, and signs and
messaging at anti-Israel rallies have adopted the Boycott, Divestment, and
Sanctions movement's theme slogan, “Palestine forever, Israel Never Ever," meaning
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that the State of Israel would cease to exist, falsely denying the Jewish people's and
Israel's historical connection to its ancient home in the Land of Israel, including the
present day State of Israel and Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, which were the
heartland of the ancient nations of Israel and Judah; and
Whereas, Wisconsin's elected representatives who defend the inalienable right
to free speech understand that the goals and activities of Boycott, Divestment, and
Sanctions campaigns in Wisconsin are harmful to the state's relationships with
Wisconsin's Jewish citizens, with Wisconsin's non-Jewish citizens who support the
State of Israel and the Jewish people, and with the Jewish homeland, Israel, and
have a deleterious impact on the educational environment; and
Whereas, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign's call for academic
boycotts has been condemned by many of our nation's largest academic associations,
over 250 university presidents, and many other leading scholars as a violation of the
bedrock principle of academic freedom; now therefore be it
Resolved by the assembly, That the members of the Assembly condemn the
international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and its activities in
Wisconsin for legitimizing anti-Semitism and for seeking to undermine the Jewish
people's right to self-determination, which they are fulfilling in the State of Israel;
and, be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Assembly condemn activities that
contribute directly or indirectly to the denial, violation, or delegitimization of any
people's academic freedom, including, but not limited to, promotion of academic
boycotts by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel; and,
be it further
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Resolved, That the members of the Assembly consider the international
Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and its agenda inherently
antithetical and deeply damaging to the causes of peace, justice, equality, democracy,
and human rights for all peoples in the Middle East and in the United States; and,
be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Assembly reaffirm our support for the
State of Israel, recognize that the Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel,
condemn all attacks on the people of Israel, support Israel's right to engage in lawful
acts of self-defense, and oppose all attempts to deny the legitimacy of Israel as a
sovereign state; and, be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Assembly reaffirm our position that the
trustees, administrators, and educators at all levels in our universities in Wisconsin
must take an active stand against all anti-Semitic actions and intimidation taken
against Jewish students on their campuses, whereby all students may feel safe, and
be safe, from harm due to these pernicious activities; and, be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Assembly encourage and support the
exercise of free speech and civil debate, particularly on college campuses, and further
encourage university and college administrations to curb any impediments to free
speech and any abridgment of free speech on campus by any individuals or groups,
and urge them to take disciplinary action against all students, faculty, and
administrators who engage in actions that abridge free speech on campus in
violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and, be
it further
Resolved, That the Assembly Chief Clerk transmit authenticated copies of
this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker and Clerk of the
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U.S. House of Representatives, the President and Secretary of the U.S. Senate, the
Chancellor of Higher Education and each member of the Wisconsin Board of Regents,
the provosts and chairpersons of the boards of trustees of all Wisconsin public and
private colleges and universities, and the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., for
transmission to the proper authorities in the State of Israel.
(END)
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