Local lawmakers stand alone, vote no on controversial bill.

As a controversial bill awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s approval, two Monterey County lawmakers, Bill Monning, D-Carmel, and Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, find themselves alone. They were the only two no votes for AB 2844, a bill that would require companies with state contracts of $100,000 or more to verify that they don’t violate California civil rights rules by discriminating against foreign countries, including Israel.

Recent actions to overlook Israeli-affiliated options, known as the “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” movement, swept the nation in recent years – especially on college campuses. The goal is to end Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Students for Justice in Palestine chapters helped pass resolutions to withdraw investments from companies that support Israel. Now, the movement is facing pushback from state lawmakers who denounce the BDS movement’s prevention of state contracts as anti-Semitic and discriminatory against Israel.

In August, AB 2844 passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate 34-1 and the Assembly, 69-1. “I would have rather seen this bill directed at bringing together our campuses and communities to model that dialogue that is so desperately needed in the Middle East,” Monning said on the Senate floor.

Monning and Stone both say they’re against any act of discrimination, but believe boycotting is a constitutional right. “My strong root against the bill is fighting for First Amendment rights,” Monning says. “Competing views should be heard.” He gives examples of boycotting for change: Salinas farm workers and Martin Luther King Jr.

While the two lawmakers appear to be alone in their stance in Sacramento, they are joined by a few influential groups that oppose the bill based on the argument it violates free speech, including the Los Angeles Times editorial board, the ACLU and Jewish Voices for Peace.

The bill landed on Brown’s desk Sept. 9 and is awaiting his signature or veto.