After backlash, New Orleans City Council to revisit human rights resolution
 

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The New Orleans City Council might reverse course after voting in support of a Jan. 11 resolution ostensibly supporting actions against companies involved with human rights violations. But after pushback from local Jewish groups and statewide politicians, councilmembers said they made a mistake; the resolution was supported by groups joining the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement protesting Israel?s denial of a Palestinian state.

Councilmembers say they've waded into an international movement without understanding its intent ? meanwhile, the issue has attracted significant international press and condemnation from several groups.

The resolution doesn't mention Israel or Palestine, nor does it have any legal teeth, but it acts as a guideline for the Council as it "commits itself to protect, respect, and fulfill the full range of inherent human rights for all, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and numerous other international human rights instruments" and encourages the "creation of a process to review direct investments and contracts for inclusion on, or removal from, the City's list of corporate securities and contractual partners."

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Anti-Defamation League urged the City Council to reconsider the measure for what they believe is its affiliation with the BDS movement and because it was introduced through the suspension of the council rules without a chance for its opposition to speak against it.

The Jewish Federation said it's "deeply concerned about its unintended consequences relating to Israel and in bolstering the divisive BDS movement," which the group said is rooted in "anti-Semitic components" and "is designed to challenge Israel's economic viability and very right to exist."

Aaron Ahlquist, the*Anti-Defamation League's*South Central Regional Director, said the Council's "stealth" vote "without any public notice or the opportunity to promote alternative views was both a deep disappointment and a one-sided, undemocratic process."

"Although this measure does not reference BDS or Israel, it is clear from video of the hearing what supporters for this controversial measure thought it was about," Ahlquist said in a statement.?