On August 31, the California contract prohibition law AB 498 passed both the Senate and the Assembly in California! The California legislature was in overtime session at the end of the month, so they were working late on Sunday when this bill passed both houses of the legislature.
Assembly Member Ed Hernandez authored The Darfur Contracting Act, A. B. 498, a law that will prohibit the state of California from doing business with the companies that help fund the genocide in Darfur. Through contract prohibition, this bill will ensure that the state of California does not enter into or renew contracts with companies that help fund the genocide.
In 2006 California passed divestment legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 294. This show of leadership was essential to starting the targeted Sudan divestment movement that has now swept the country and impacted the government of Sudan.
Now California is again taking the lead in using economic pressure to end genocide in Darfur. Thanks to an outpour of activist and coalition support, the legislature has acted; now is it up to the governor to sign the bill into law. If he does, California will join the state of Arizona in what could become a long list of states to pass Darfur contract prohibition. As we see violence continue against civilians and humanitarian groups, today it is clear that the people of Darfur cannot wait for the world to take action. Indeed, the California legislature has listened to that call for action.
posted by Sarah Grundahl
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