A group of Democratic state lawmakers are renewing their push for the Illinois Investment Policy Board to stop restricting state funds for companies boycotting Israel.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A group of Democratic state lawmakers are renewing their push for the Illinois Investment Policy Board to stop restricting state funds for companies boycotting Israel. The Illinois Coalition for Human Rights said a current state law is dangerous for citizens protesting the war in Gaza.

The Illinois Investment Policy Board can currently restrict public funding to any company if they believe the company is protesting Israel. Some lawmakers claim the 10-year-old law requires the state's pension fund to stop investing in companies who stand up for Palestinian rights.

"This is a shame. This is a stain on our state's history," said Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Berwyn). "It's something that ought to be repealed immediately. Immediately." 

Rashid told reporters in Springfield he is elated there is a ceasefire in Gaza, but he argues the absence of continued genocide is not lasting peace or justice.

"Just a few months ago, a 40-year-old father of five who had lived in Cicero, Illinois was killed by Israeli settlers while he was in his home in the West Bank," Rashid said. "There's story after story of Palestinian villages being invaded by Israelis who torch neighborhoods and injured and kill Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans."

He said the state of Illinois needs to "get out of the way" of advocates protesting for human rights. Rashid and Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank) filed this plan in February, but both versions of the bill have been blocked from receiving a hearing.

"We're here because it is extremely important that those of us who care about international human rights show we are doing something here in the state of Illinois to support advocates in their goal of peace and justice in this world," said Rep. Lilian Jimenez (D-Chicago).

WAND News asked Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Senate President Don Harmon's offices if they will allow this bill to be heard. The legislative leaders have not responded at this time.

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