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State law doesn’t
rule out divestment
Re: “Calls for universities to divest from Israel impeded by state law” (Page A1, April 28)
AB 2844 (from 2016) has absolutely no impact on student demands that universities divest from Israel and firms that profit from occupation or genocide.
That bill as introduced was a direct attack on the First Amendment that would have denied state contracts to individuals or businesses boycotting Israel — even so, with no relevance to divestment. Robust opposition from 100 organizations, bolstered by committee staff analyses that warned of its unconstitutionality, led to numerous rewrites.
What passed is legally toothless, thus sparing California litigation that has seen courts strike down such laws elsewhere. The statute merely requires that state contractors promise not to discriminate, per pre-existing law. Boycotts remain protected speech.
Passage, however, enabled Israel supporters to brag, falsely, that they had enacted an anti-boycott law, sparking occasional “chilling effects” on speech.
David Mandel
California Democratic Party Central Committee
Sacramento
Other more-critical fees
need to be reined in
Re: “Lawmaker’s bill takes aim at line-jump perk” (Page A1, May 6).
While I appreciate our elected leaders fussing over new laws regarding food delivery fees, concert ticket fees and my personal favorite, airport line-jumping fees, I can only imagine if they would actually create rules, regulations and laws to reduce fees for things we all need and actually use, such as energy, fuel and medication.
Ah, the power of lobbyist money, but hey, Door Dash and Ticketmaster … unreal.
Joe Picone
San Jose
World was not silent
on Oct. 7 atrocities
Re: “World refuses to acknowledge Oct. 7 atrocities” (Page A6, May 2).
The author implies the public has been indifferent to the Hamas attack on the Israelis. Bret Stephens highlights Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary, “Screams Before Silence,” to point out that the world has not condemned the sexual brutality on Israeli women during the attack.
Mr. Stephens is incorrect. The world was horrified by this abominable assault. Many voices spoke out against Hamas violence and expressed revulsion. A broad variety of organizations strongly supported Israel’s right to defend itself.
However, many equally condemn this continuous war against innocent children and helpless women. There is no justification for the Israelis to punish Palestinians who have committed no crimes. Two wrongs don’t make a right. So, to answer Ms. Sandberg’s question, yes, the world is listening. It is time for Israel to show clear moral leadership and solely focus on the suppression of Hamas terrorists.
Irene Corso
Los Altos
It’s our turn to write
new chapter of protest
Re: “‘It’s a fragile situation’ on regional campuses” (Page A1, May 3).
As you start each day, ask yourself, will you write a chapter of violence or peaceful protest?
If you write a chapter of violence, the ripples will blind the world because “an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind,” often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi.
If you write a chapter of peace, the ripples will open the eyes of the world.
As you walk through your day, if you encounter monsters, “take care lest (you) thereby become a monster,” as Friedrich Nietzsche said.
Henry David Thoreau wrote the book about civil disobedience, and Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote their own chapters, with the emphasis on the word “civil” to mean lawful, peaceful and nonviolent protest of unjust actions.
Now is the time for our generation to write an equally powerful and moving chapter of peaceful and nonviolent protest.
Curtis Panasuk
San Jose
A civilized society
would end horseracing
Re: “By a nose” (Page C1, May 5).
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End horseracing. These beautiful animals are selectively bred to race, with massive hearts and lungs and spindly lightweight legs prone to breakage.
We cannot forget the horror of last year’s Derby race with 12 horses put down in the lead-up.
If we say we are a civilized society we must end racing. It is tragic and just plain wrong. Find something else to entertain yourselves.
Robert Wahler
San Jose
