From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 17, 2018
Speech pathologist suing Texas over anti-BDS law
A speech pathologist is suing the state of Texas after she was told she could not work with an Austin public school district after refusing to sign an affidavit stating that she does not support a boycott of Israel, The Intercept website reports.
Texas is one of dozens of states to sign legislation forbidding the state from contracting with anyone who supports a boycott of Israel. Similar legislation has been proposed on the federal level.
The suit by Bahia Amawi, of Round Rock, Texas, in US District Court seeks to have the law struck down by the state and the clause in the school district’s contract removed.
While free-speech and pro-Palestinian activists have criticized the law, this may be the first time a court will be asked to rule on its constitutionality.
