Divisive Israel boycott referendum settled. How to move forward?

The gathering at Bobby’s Eastside in Forest Park late Tuesday evening didn’t look as if it was a raucous victory party. In fact, to the casual observer, outside of a few yellow T-shirts, it might have been an extended family discussing the issues of the day. But no, this was a group of about 20 members of Oak Parkers for Free Speech, and the only issue they were discussing was approval of an advisory referendum it had successfully placed on the midterm election ballot in Oak Park – despite an objection that was overruled by a village electoral board and several subsequent court appeals – that asked whether Illinois should repeal laws that ban state investment in businesses that boycott the state of Israel.  As of the end of the night, “yes” votes outpaced “no” 65.36% to 34.64%. Over 23,000 ballots were cast in the village; 14,562 supported the referendum, 7,716 did not. Abstentions were not clarified on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website. Results are unofficial until cer