State Senator Jeffrey Klein of the Bronx, head of the Independent Democratic Conference and co-leader of the State Senate is pairing with Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind to introduce a bill denouncing the Washington, D.C.-based American Studies Association for boycotting academic partnerships with Israeli institutions. The legislation would end state funding and bonding privileges from public or private schools that don’t withdraw support for the ASA within 30 days.

In a joint statement released on Friday, Mr. Klein and Mr. Hikind called the recent ASaA boycott “a slap in the face to Jews and supporters of Israel everywhere.”

“Make no mistake: the ASA’s boycott is targeted discrimination against Israel that betrays the values of academic freedom that we hold dear,” the two Jewish lawmakers stated. “We cannot encourage our colleges and universities to engage in this type of discrimination against Israel. New Yorkers expect us to reject discrimination in every form, and cutting off the state spigot is the best way of doing that. ”

Under the legislation, schools would also be required to immediately suspend the use of any state resources in support of organizations like the ASA. The legislation would also prohibit employees of New York State’s public universities from participating in conferences or activities sponsored by groups that participate in discriminatory boycotts like the ASA. Under the legislation, schools could still join and support academic organization that boycott academic institutions located in countries listed under federal law as state sponsors of terrorism

Senator Klein and Assemblyman Hikind said they would send letters Friday to the chancellors of SUNY and CUNY, asking them to “immediately withdraw any support for the ASA.”

Read the letter in full below:

h/t Capital New York

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)