Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Oyster Bay Town Board today affirmed their stance on individuals or businesses that openly Boycott, Divest and/or Sanction (BDS) allies of America, by denouncing Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever for stating they will cease operations in parts of Israel.

 

Supervisor Saladino stated, “BDS is nothing short of smokescreen for anti-Semitism! My administration and the Town Board approved a policy that restricts government from doing business with any company that boycotts, divests and/or sanctions Israel. Accordingly, we refuse to give any business to Ben & Jerry’s or its parent company, Unilever. Hatred, bias, or intolerance of any kind have no place in our Town, our state, or our great nation, and we will never tolerate any form of anti-Semitism.”

 

In a proactive measure to reject and condemn acts of hate and economic antagonism, the Town Board unanimously adopted legislation in 2017 that bars Town government from doing business with individuals or companies that openly boycott American allies, including Israel. The Town’s Anti-BDS legislation targets the movement that attempts to isolate Israel and other American allies from the international community. In December 2020, Town officials further enforced their stance against hatred and bias by working with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and American Jewish Committee of Long Island to formalize the definition of anti-Semitism.

 

“We have always sent a clear message of intolerance for any acts of hate in our Town, and have taken measures to help urge acceptance and unity and our communities,” Supervisor Saladino stated. “We remain committed to opposing any sort of discrimination and vow to never conduct business with those who condone bigotry or anti-Semitism, and look to hurt American allies.”