This is happening between now and Monday.
Folks in Maryland can find out if their state Senator or Delegate is on the conference committee, and find their phone number, here:
Here's one of the alerts we sent to Maryland today...
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Robert Naiman, Just Foreign Policy <info at justforeignpolicy.org> Date: Thu, Apr 3, 2014 at 12:05 PM Subject: Maryland: Stop sneak attack on rights defenders To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
[image: Just Foreign Policy]<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org>
Dear Robert,
*Tell Maryland legislators and Governor O'Malley to take the sneak attack on Palestinian rights defenders out of the budget bill. * Sign our petition<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>
A provision that defines boycotts against Israeli policies towards the Palestinians as anti-Semitism (1) was inserted into the House version of the Maryland budget bill without any vote or public hearing (2). This language is not in the version of the budget passed by the Senate.
Help stop this sneak attack on Palestinian rights defenders. *Urge Maryland legislators and Governor O'Malley to insist on the removal of the offensive language by signing our petition at MoveOn:*
*http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Maryland-sneak <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>*
The two versions of the budget bill will go to a conference committee that will decide the final language. The Maryland Senate and House will then vote on the bill, but no further changes will be allowed.
A similar resolution has been defeated in Illinois. (3) Similar legislation is pending in New York, Florida, Kansas, and the U.S. Congress. (4)
South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, a leader in the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement that helped abolish apartheid in South Africa, has challenged the Maryland provision and similar legislation as an attack on free speech in support of justice in Israel and Palestine. (5)
Maryland legislators and Governor Martin O'Malley should insist that the offensive anti-boycott language in the House version of the budget bill be removed.
Help stop this sneak attack on advocacy for justice by signing and sharing our petition:
*http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Maryland-sneak <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>*
* <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=5&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fact%2FMaryland-sneak>*Thanks for all you do to help protect opportunities to advocate for justice,
Robert Naiman and Megan Iorio Just Foreign Policy
*Help support our work -- make a $10 tax-deductible donation today!* Your financial support helps us create opportunities for Americans to agitate for a more just foreign policy. *http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fdonate>*
References: 1. "Amendment to senate bill 170, as amended," http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/amds/bil_0000/sb0170_92322801.pdf <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmgaleg.maryland.gov%2F2014RS%2Famds%2Fbil_0000%2Fsb0170_92322801.pdf>2. "New Developments on Anti-Boycott Efforts in MD State Legislature: Immediate Action Needed," http://www.freespeechfreestate.org/final_action <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freespeechfreestate.org%2Ffinal_action>3. "Anti-Boycott Resolution Rejected in Illinois State Senate Committee," Center for Constitutional Rights, http://palestinelegalsupport.org/2014/04/02/anti-boycott-resolution-rejected-in-illinois-state-senate-committee/ <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalestinelegalsupport.org%2F2014%2F04%2F02%2Fanti-boycott-resolution-rejected-in-illinois-state-senate-committee%2F>4. "Questions about free speech, anti-Semitism roil debate on academic boycott of Israel," Renee Schoof, McClatchy, March 17, 2014, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/17/221495/questions-about-free-speech-anti.html <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=10&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcclatchydc.com%2F2014%2F03%2F17%2F221495%2Fquestions-about-free-speech-anti.html>5. "Statement from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on US anti-BDS legislation," http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1502<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=11&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justforeignpolicy.org%2Fnode%2F1502>
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-- Robert Naiman Policy Director Just Foreign Policy www.justforeignpolicy.org naiman at justforeignpolicy.org (202) 448-2898, extension 1