Janet Simmon: Anti-boycott executive order betrays First Amendment, shared values

To The Daily Sun,

Gov. Chris Sununu, despite negative votes in both the New Hampshire House and Senate, signed Executive Order 2023-05, which infringes on the right to boycott.

This anti-boycott legislation is in violation of the First Amendment. This executive order does not serve the people or the government of NH. It does not strengthen local businesses or enable government agencies to select the best companies to provide services for the state.

NH businesses do not boycott Israeli companies because they dislike Israel, but because the companies are violating international law. BDS has nothing to do with national, religious or ethnic discrimination, it is a way to pressure Israel to end its human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. BDS is a traditional nonviolent way to express concern over mistreatment.

Our politicians tell us that we should support Israel’s ancient claims to the land. Russia has ancient claims to the territory in Ukraine. Does that give them the right to forcibly take that land?

Our politicians tell us they support our “shared values.” Does a country that does not have a constitution, therefore empowering a few to make any changes to the government they desire, share our values? Does a country that bombs refugee camps share our values?

Gov. Sununu is putting the interests of a foreign country above those of the citizens of New Hampshire. Remember that the next time he runs for office.

Janet Simmon

Laconia