"Federal Judge Blocks Anti-BDS Law In Texas", 28 Apr 2019

In a major victory for free speech rights, a federal court judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction on Thursday against the state’s 2017 law that requires public employees and companies who contract with the state to certify that they will not engage in a boycott of Israel...

The Texas law is part of a systematic nationwide attempt to stigmatize and outlaw the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign for Palestinian rights in the US. In his 56-page order, US District Judge Robert Pitman writes that the law, House Bill 89, “threatens to suppress unpopular ideas” and “manipulate the public debate through coercion rather than persuasion.”...

The injunction follows similar orders issued by federal judges against anti-BDS laws in Arizona and Kansas, citing First Amendment violations.

Lawsuits are also pending against anti-BDS laws in Maryland and Arkansas...