ATLANTA – State Representative John Carson (R-Marietta) today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s June 22 ruling to uphold the state’s anti-BDS law, which targets the “BDS Movement” that promotes boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel:
“I was pleased to see the unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to uphold Georgia’s anti-BDS law in Abby Martin v. Chancellor for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The constitutionality of our state’s anti-BDS law has been decisively established in this case. With this decision, multiple circuits have now highlighted the fact that discriminatory commercial conduct is distinct from constitutionally-protected free speech. These laws provide important protections to citizens and local businesses who may be targeted by the BDS hate movement’s boycott of Israel. I am proud to have led the effort to strengthen and further clarify Georgia’s anti-BDS law in 2022, which incidentally had the effect of mooting the original case underlying the court’s decision here.”
During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed House Bill 383, a bipartisan bill which seeks to protect the state’s economic relationship with Israel. The General Assembly previously passed legislation that would prohibit the state from participating in commercial contracts that discriminate against businesses that operate in Israel. To clarify this original law, HB 383 prohibits the state from entering into a contract valued at $100,000 or more with a company without written certification that the company is not and will not participate in a boycott of Israel.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s official ruling may be found here.
Representative John Carson represents the citizens of District 46, which includes portions of Cherokee and Cobb counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and currently serves as Chairman of the Retirement Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Insurance, Intragovernmental Coordination, Rules, State Planning & Community Affairs, Transportation and Ways & Means committees.
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