The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is urging supporters and allies to contact Governor Wes Moore and call on him to honor his oath to uphold the United States Constitution by repealing Maryland’s unconstitutional anti-BDS executive order, which limited the ability of Marylanders to boycott the Israeli government over its human rights abuses.
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On his first day in office, New York City’s newly inaugurated Mayor Zohran Mamdani took decisive action to protect fundamental civil liberties by revoking New York City’s anti-BDS executive order. That policy, enacted by his predecessor, restricted city agencies and pension officials from engaging in political boycotts and divestment of the Israeli government. Mayor Mamdani’s action reaffirmed a long-settled constitutional principle: peaceful political boycotts are protected speech under the First Amendment.
Despite years of sustained grassroots advocacy in Maryland – including tens of thousands of constituent emails and calls, as well as legislation introduced in the Maryland General Assembly – Governor Moore has thus far declined to repeal Maryland’s anti-BDS executive order.
Maryland Executive Order 01.01.2017.25 favors a foreign government, Israel – under investigation by the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide – by conditioning state contracts and participation on political viewpoints and placing unconstitutional restrictions on protected political expression.
Similar anti-BDS laws and executive orders have been blocked or struck down by federal courts across the country, including in Kansas, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia, for violating the First Amendment.
This executive order similarly undermines free speech, chills lawful advocacy, and exposes Maryland to unnecessary legal risk. It should never have been enacted – and it should not remain in force.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com