Artists who boycott Israel push back against Florida government’s ban on hiring them

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A self-described struggling artist from Missouri, Jacob Burmood says he could have used the $3,500 offered by a South Florida suburb to exhibit one of his abstract metal sculptures. But his heart “just sank” when he learned the city contract prohibited him from “engaging in a boycott of Israel.” Burmood turned down the offer, saying he couldn’t sign in good faith “because that would normalize this type of language in contracts. Ron DeSantis said his state stands with the key U.S. ally and emphasized “our commitment to Israel and our fight against anti-Israel sentiments.” In the eyes of Lee Rowland, making artists affirm specific political statements is a violation of their First Amendment right to free expression. “These kind of contract provisions absolutely violate the right to free expression,” she said, “because they condition a government contract on your political beliefs and behaviors.” The governor’s press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, pushed back on that claim, saying Florida’s law deals with “conduct, not speech.” Burmood said he has felt powerless watching the widespread destruction in Gaza — backed by a record $17.9 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel. “Whatever my tiny little voice can do, I’m going to use it.” ___ Associated Press writer David Fischer in Miami contributed to this report.