Stop Raping Palestine.

Demands for Palestinian human rights resolutions in Ann Arbor City Council:

2022-05-15T05:22:00.001-07:00

Since 1983, thousands of people have demanded Palestinian human rights resolutions in the Ann Arbor (Michigan) City Council.

Dearborn, Michigan rally confirms it: "Netanyahu is a piece of shit"

2021-05-21T05:27:00.002-07:00

From a rally against fueling the Israeli military.

May 18, 2021, Dearborn, Michigan:

Columbia College students vote for divestment against the crime of apartheid, to support the rights of the Palestinian people:

2020-12-19T04:44:00.002-08:00

"CEC Announces Passage Of Divestment Referendum, CCSC And ESC Election Results"

In BWOG Columbia Student News, September 29, 2020

At: https://bwog.com/2020/09/cec-announces-passage-of-divestment-referendum-ccsc-and-esc-election-results/

--------------------------------------

"In an email to CC and SEAS students sent this morning, the Columbia Election Commission announced student government representatives for the coming years and the passage of the divestment referendum. 61.04% of participating students voted in support of the University’s divestment from companies that profit from or support Israeli policy toward Palestinian people.

"Last week, Columbia College students voted on the question of whether 'Columbia University [should] divest its stocks, funds, and endowment from companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel’s acts towards Palestinians that, according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), fall under the United Nations International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment on the Crime of Apartheid.'

"Out of the 1771 students who participated in the voting, 1081 voted in favor, 485 voted against, and 205 abstained. Overall, 39.3% of the Columbia College student body voted on the referendum, which exceeds the baseline 30% required for a valid vote. This comes after years of debate surrounding the contentious Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Ballot initiative that CCSC eventually passed in November of 2019..."

----------------------------------------

This opinion article appeared before that vote, in the Columbia Spectator:

"Stand for justice, stand for Palestine"

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2020/09/23/stand-for-justice-stand-for-palestine/

by IBTIHAL MALLEY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Brief excerpt is below:

"...Voting in favor of this ballot initiative demonstrates a commitment to the voices of the student body—voices that are increasingly affirming the Palestinian struggle for justice and liberation. Our institutional holdings make us, as students, complicit in Israeli apartheid and such ubiquitous violations demand our concern and action. It is for these reasons that we ask the Columbia College student body to consider including Palestine as part of one’s moral compass when deciding to vote this week."

UMN divestment referendum is approved by campus vote, against Israeli human rights violations.

2018-03-12T00:55:00.003-07:00

UMN divestment referendum passes, against Israeli human rights violations.

Students of the University of Minnesota demanded that the Board of Regents "divest from companies that are complicit in Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights":

"UMN Divest referendum passes by 217 votes"

March 11, 2018

A total of 6,567 students voted on the referendum. See the article referenced below:

http://www.mndaily.com/article/2018/03/n-umn-divest-referendum-passes-by-217-votes

"God Damn 'Israel'" at the Ann Arbor City Council - March 5, 2018

2018-03-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

From the March 5, 2018 meeting of Ann Arbor City Council:

The campaign to boycott Israel has entered its 16th year at the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council.

For a video of that entire city council meeting (38 minutes), see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiwLuMsMLFs

Divestment victory at University of Wisconsin

2016-05-19T19:20:00.002-07:00

"UW-Madison graduate student union endorses BDS"

May 19, 2016

At: http://mondoweiss.net/2016/05/graduate-student-endorses/

The following press release was sent out by the UW-Madison Union of Graduate Student Workers:

“Members of the Teaching Assistants’ Association at the University of Wisconsin-Madison vote overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution to divest from the State of Israel and corporations that profit from the illegal occupation of Palestine.

“During a two-week vote distributed to all union members, the Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA/AFT Local 3220) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the oldest graduate student labor union in the United States representing over 9,000 graduate workers and students, voted overwhelmingly (81% of voting members) in favor of adopting a resolution to divest from Israeli state institutions and international corporations complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the ongoing violations of Palestinians’ human rights.

“In doing so, the TAA joins other graduate student unions UAW 2322 at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, UAW 2865 at the University of California System, and UAW 2110 at New York University, who have stood in solidarity with Palestinian Civil Society’s call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) as a non-violent tactic to put political and economic pressure on Israel until it ends the occupation and its violation of human rights and international law. The resolution also calls on the TAA’s employer, the University of Wisconsin System, and parent international, the AFL-CIO, to divest from the state of Israel and companies that contribute to and profit from the military occupation and oppression of Palestinians....”

_____________________________________________________

Another victory for boycott against the apartheid state:-at the University of Massachusetts

2016-05-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

"UMass graduate union votes to support boycott, divestment movement against Israel"

April 21, 2016

At: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/umass_graduate_union_votes_to.html

AMHERST — The Graduate Employee Organization at the University of Massachusetts has adopted a resolution in "solidarity with Palestinian civil society" and supporting the controversial Boycott, Divestmentand Sanctions Movement.

The question put to its membership of more than 2,000 last week asked: "Should GEO/UAW2322 and its members join the global movement for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, until such time as Israel has complied with international law and respected the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and all Palestinian refugees and exiles?"

According to a GEO press release, 95 percent of those voting supported it.

The movement is an attempt to "put political and economic pressure on the Israeli state until it complies with international law and respects the human rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories," according to a press release....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Univ. of Massachusetts Grad Student Workers Endorse BDS Against Israel:
"The 2,000-member Graduate Employee Organization, part of United Auto Workers Local 2322, passed a resolution endorsing BDS."

April 21, 2016
At: http://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/univ-massachusetts-grad-student-workers-endorse-bds-against-israel

"In a rebuke to their union’s top officials, graduate student workers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst overwhelmingly approved a measure aimed at supporting Palestinian human rights last week.

"The 2,000-member Graduate Employee Organization (GEO), part of United Auto Workers Local 2322, passed a resolution endorsing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), a global movement pressuring Israel to respect the rights of Palestinians and end its occupation of Palestinian territory. The vote—which organizers say passed with 95 percent approval—comes just months after the UAW International Executive Board (IEB) controversially overturned a similar BDS resolution passed by University of California graduate student workers with UAW Local 2865...."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boycott and divestment against Israel:-- Victories at CUNY and University of Chicago

2016-05-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

"BDS takes two big strides, at CUNY and U of Chicago"

Mondoweiss, April 16, 2016

At: http://mondoweiss.net/2016/04/bds-takes-two-big-strides-at-cuny-and-u-of-chicago/

"Two important developments in the campaign to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel over human rights violations. Last night the City University of New York (CUNY) Doctoral Students Council overwhelmingly endorsed academic boycott of Israel as a blow against 'settler colonialism and structural racism.'

And two days ago the University of Chicago student government voted, also overwhelmingly, that the university should divest itself from ten companies that profit from 'apartheid' in military-occupied Palestine..."

Huge crowd expected for U-M Divestment vote, March 31st-

2015-03-25T06:13:00.001-07:00

The University of Michigan's Central Student Government will vote on last night's resolution for divestment, in support of Palestinian human rights, on Tuesday, March 31, in the Michigan Union’s Rogel Ballroom, 530 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Hundreds of people are expected to pack the ballroom next Tuesday, in support of this divestment resolution. See today's media coverage:

"SAFE presents revamped divest resolution to CSG"

MICHIGAN DAILY

March 25, 2015

At: http://www.michigandaily.com/news/safe-proposes-bds-resolution-csg

(9 photos are included, from last night's giant student government meeting)

"After failing to secure the passage of a similar proposal last year, Students Allied for Freedom and Equality proposed a new divestment resolution at Tuesday night’s Central Student Government meeting.

"SAFE is the University’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, an international organization that stands for Palestinian solidarity on college campuses. One of the group’s primary goals is to advocate for the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement, which in part asks institutions to divest from companies that allegedly facilitate the violation of Palestinian human rights. Divestment movements are typically group proposals made to a city or university board, requesting suspension of investments in companies that support unethical or immoral actions.

"...The meeting began with nine speakers voicing their position during the community concerns portion of the meeting. Eight of the speakers, including seven University students and an Ann Arbor resident, spoke in favor of divestment...

"...The resolution was sent to be approved by the resolutions committee. The assembly will vote on its ultimate approval at CSG’s meeting next Tuesday evening in the Michigan Union’s Rogel Ballroom."

__________________________________________________

Also:

Divestment resolution wins at Loyola University's Student Government, the night of March 24, 2015:

"A two-minute window into Loyola University’s historic divestment win"

March 25, 2015

At: http://smpalestine.com/2015/03/25/a-two-minute-window-into-loyola-universitys-historic-divestment-win/

__________________________________________________

And:

"McMaster students vote to support BDS boycott campaign"

CBC

March 24, 2015

At: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/mcmaster-students-vote-to-support-bds-boycott-campaign-1.3007101

"McMaster University’s student union voted in support of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement that aims to put economic and political pressure on Israel over issues related to the occupied territories and Palestinian people. Students at the student union’s annual general assembly voted to endorse the BDS campaign where 622 people voted for the resolution and 28 voted against...."

__________________________________________________

University of Toledo divestment resolution against Israeli Apartheid -A landslide victory is reported on March 4, 2015

2015-03-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

"Toledo student government passes first BDS resolution in Ohio"

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
March 4, 2015

At: http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/toledo-student-government-passes-first-bds-resolution-in-ohio/article_c1111ae2-c2a5-11e4-8b32-47ce74756509.html

"The University of Toledo student government passed a divestment resolution during an open forum meeting March 3. This is the first divestment resolution that has been passed by a university student government in Ohio....

"...Undergraduate students at The Ohio State University in Columbus will have the chance to vote on a similar divestment resolution during student government elections March 9 to 11. Moses expressed worry that the vote at UT may set a precedent for other universities.

" 'I think the vote now gives other Ohio colleges and their SJP groups the courage to come out and start their boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns,' she said. 'I unfortunately think we might start seeing a bigger trend.' "

_______________________________________________________

"Divestment passes:
"Resolution gains majority vote, campaign continues"

Independent Collegian (At University of Toledo; Ohio)
March 4, 2015

At: http://independentcollegian.com/2015/03/04/news/divestment-passes/

"Shouts of joy and excitement erupted from the supporters of the divestment resolution as it passed in an overwhelming majority vote of 21-4 during the weekly University of Toledo Student Government meeting.

"At the start of the meeting, 94 attendees were present, not including the 27 senators and 7 SJC members in attendance...

"...Derek Ide, SJP steering committee member, said Israel is not being singled out by the resolution.

" 'It is not us [SJP] who singles out Israel. It is Hillel and AIPAC and every other defender of Israeli crimes who wants Israel to maintain a special status, a status that places them above international law and unaccountable to the norms and standards of justice.' ”

_______________________________________________________

Earlier US divestment victories:

US Student Victories in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement

At: http://rahimk.tumblr.com/post/58642125362/us-student-victories-in-the-boycott-divestment

2003 - Wayne State University (divestment)

2005 - University of Michigan - Dearborn (divestment) (again in 2010)
2009 - Hampshire College (divestment)*
2010 - UC Berkeley (divestment receives majority vote, but is vetoed)
2011 - DePaul University (Sabra boycott)
2012 - Earlham College (Sabra boycott)
2012 - Evergreen State College (product boycott)
2012 - Arizona State University (divestment)
2012 - National MEChA endorsement of BDS (divestment)
2012 - University of Massachusetts – Boston (divestment)
2013 - UC Irvine (divestment)
2013 - UC San Diego (divestment)
2013 - UC Berkeley (divestment)
2013 - Oberlin college (divestment)
2014 - Loyola University at Chicago (divestment)
2014 - UC Riverside (divestment)
2014 - University of New Mexico Graduate and Professional Student Association (divestment)
2014 - DePaul University (divestment referendum)
2014 - University of California, Santa Cruz (divestment - later striken)
2014 - University of California, Los Angeles (divestment)
2014 - University of California Graduate Union (UAW 2865) (full BDS referendum)
2015 - UC Davis (divestment)
2015 - UC Student Association (divestment)
2015 - Stanford University (divestment)
2015 - Northwestern University (divestment)

(This list is likely missing some victories prior to 2012.)
*Hampshire’s divestment has been implemented. Other successes on this list represent votes calling for university divestment.

_______________________________________________________

"Anti-Israel divestment push gains traction at US colleges"

2015-02-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

"Anti-Israel divestment push gains traction at US colleges"
Associated Press
Feb. 28, 2015

At: http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article11435600.html
And at: http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/politics/article/Anti-Israel-divestment-push-gains-traction-at-US-6107437.php#/0
And at: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/294506441.html
And at: http://www.edgeboston.com/news/news/172771/anti-israel_divestment_push_gains_traction_at_us_colleges_

"...Nowhere is the impact more evident than the University of California system. Student governments at five of the 10 UC campuses have voted for divestment. Two more, Santa Cruz and Davis, did the same, but the votes were thrown out over procedural issues. Since December, divestment also won the backing of the labor union representing thousands of teaching assistants and other workers for the entire UC system, UAW2865, and the University of California Students Association, which represents student government bodies statewide..."

Divestment against Apartheid Israel--At the University of Michigan, 2015, andAt Northwestern University:

2015-02-25T14:38:00.002-08:00

"SAFE launches campaign to encourage divestment"

Michigan Daily (University of Michigan at Ann Arbor)

Feb. 25, 2015

At: http://www.michigandaily.com/news/bds-sympsoisum

Students Allied for Freedom and Equality — the University chapter of the activist group Students for Justice in Palestine — read a new divestment resolution Tuesday during the Divestment and Sanctions Symposium. Organizers intend to bring [it] before the Central Student Government...

______________________________________________

"Northwestern poses transparency challenges as students move forward with divestment"

Daily Northwestern

Feb. 25, 2015

At: http://dailynorthwestern.com/2015/02/24/campus/northwestern-poses-transparency-challenges-as-students-move-forward-with-divestment/

"After the passage of Northwestern Divest’s resolution at Associated Student Government Senate last week, NU joins a growing number of universities in the United States whose students have pushed for divestment from companies allegedly involved in human rights violations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Student governments at six of the nine undergraduate colleges within the University of California system have passed resolutions calling for divestment...."

______________________________________________

Historic vote for divestment against Israel:

2015-02-09T12:44:00.002-08:00

"UC Student Association votes to divest from companies allegedly violating Palestinian rights"

DAILY CAL
Feb. 9, 2015

At: http://www.dailycal.org/2015/02/09/university-california-student-association-votes-divest-companies-allegedly-complicit-violations-palestinian-rights/

"The University of California Student Association passed a resolution at its Sunday meeting calling for the UC Board of Regents to divest from corporations allegedly violating Palestinian human rights.

"The resolution called for divestment from a number of companies — including General Electric, Boeing and Hewlett-Packard — that have been accused of enabling or profiting from ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine...."

"...Already, several student governments have passed similar divestment bills. Last month, UC Davis’ student senate passed a resolution urging the UC regents to divest from corporations supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestine. In 2013, the ASUC Senate voted to pass a similar bill, deciding to divest funds from companies associated with Israel’s military.

"UCLA’s undergraduate student government voted to take similar action in November, and in December, members of United Auto Workers Local 2865, a labor union representing student employees in the UC system, voted to pass a measure calling for both the university and union to divest from companies with ties to the Israeli military...."

---------------------------------------------

Also:

"In historic vote, UC Student Association endorses call for divestment in support of Palestinian rights"

MONDOWEISS
February 9, 2015
At: http://mondoweiss.net/2015/02/association-divestment-Palestinian

---------------------------------------------

"Presbyterian Church votes in favor of divesting from Israel"

2014-06-20T22:18:00.002-07:00

Presbyterians Vote to Divest Holdings to Pressure Israel

New York Times - ‎3 hours ago‎

DETROIT — After passionate debate over how best to help break the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted on Friday at its general convention to divest from three companies that it says supply Israel with ...

Presbyterians to divest as protest against Israel

WNDU-TV - ‎2 minutes ago‎

DETROIT (AP) -- The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest against Israeli policies toward Palestinians, voting to sell church stock in three companies whose ...

Presbyterians to divest stock to protest Israeli policy on Palestinians; 3 ...

Fox News - ‎8 minutes ago‎

DETROIT – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest against Israeli policies toward Palestinians, voting to sell church stock in three companies whose ...

US Presbyterians vote to divest from firms supplying Israeli forces and settlers

InterAksyon - ‎20 minutes ago‎

The close vote came after a week of intense lobbying and "most contentious debate of this assembly," the church's news service said, noting that divestment has historically been seen as a "last resort" after "other engagement tools have failed." In a statement ...

Presbyterians to divest from 3 companies to protest Israeli policies

Los Angeles Times - ‎23 minutes ago‎

During its national meeting, the general assembly narrowly voted to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions by a vote of 310-303. Those three companies are said to supply Israel with tools used in building settlements in the West Bank ...

US Presbyterians to divest Israeli-connected shares

The Seattle Times - ‎24 minutes ago‎

DETROIT — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest against Israeli policies toward Palestinians, voting to sell church stock in three companies whose ...

US Presbyterians vote to divest from firms to pressure Israel

MENAFN.COM - ‎36 minutes ago‎

(MENAFN - AFP) The nearly 1.9 million member Presbyterian Church USA voted Friday after a contentious debate to divest from three companies that provide supplies to Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank. The 310 to 303 vote at the ...

Presbyterian Church (USA) Makes Controversial Move Against Israel

Huffington Post - ‎38 minutes ago‎

The largest U.S. Presbyterian church narrowly voted Friday to divest from three multinational corporations that it said supply Israel with products that promote violence in occupied Palestinian territories. The divestment, vehemently opposed by many of the ...

Presbyterian Church votes to divest in protest of Israeli policies

RT (blog) - ‎42 minutes ago‎

The Presbyterian Church has narrowly voted to move forward with divestment in various companies in protest of Israeli policies toward Palestinians. The group has now become the most prominent in the US to endorse some form of divestment. The top US ...

Presbyterians vote to divest in protest over Israeli occupation

Al Jazeera America - ‎56 minutes ago‎

By a narrow margin, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. voted Friday to divest from three firms that it says supply Israel with goods and services used in the occupation of Palestinian territory. Members of the denomination's General Assembly, which represents all ...

Presbyterian Church votes in favor of divesting from Israel

The Times of Israel - ‎1 hour ago‎

In a move that a number of Jewish leaders warned would damage Jewish-Presbyterian relations for years to come, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA voted Friday in favor of divesting from three US companies which they complained profit ...

Presbyterians narrowly vote to divest from companies used by Israel

Fox News - ‎1 hour ago‎

US Presbyterians to divest stock to protest Israeli policy on Palestinians

Globalnews.ca - ‎1 hour ago‎

Carol Hylkema of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network, a Presbyterian group that advocates for Palestinians and spearheaded the drive for divestment, said their action was modeled on the divestment movement to end apartheid in South Africa. The vote was ...

Presbyterians narrowly vote to divest from 3 companies involved in Israeli ...

Washington Post - ‎2 hours ago‎

The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted Friday (June 20) to divest church funds from three American companies it cited for profiting from the oppression of Palestinians within Israel's occupied territories. The 310-303 vote of the church's General Assembly in ...

Haaretz

Presbyterians to divest from 3 companies to protest Israeli policies

Los Angeles Times-by Ryan Parker-29 minutes ago

Though advocates said the decision should not signal support for a broader movement aimed at taking action to encourage Israel to change its policies toward ...

Presbyterians to divest stock to protest Israeli policy on Palestinians ...

Minneapolis Star Tribune-3 hours ago

DETROIT — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest ...

Presbyterians vote 310-to-303 for Israel 'Occupation' divestment

The Jewish Journal of Greater L.A. - ‎2 hours ago‎

The American Presbyterian church voted Friday by a slim 310-303 margin to divest itself of holdings in three companies accused of supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. The measure, which is a victory for the boycott Israel movement, means ...

ADL condemns US Presbyterian Church vote to join Israel divestment movement

Jerusalem Post - ‎2 hours ago‎

At the church's general convention in Detroit, the vote came 310 to 303 to join the divestment campaign against Israel. The ADL stated that the Presbyterian Church made the decision with the vote to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard and Motorola ...

In 'turning-point' vote, Presbyterians divest from occupation-linked corporations

Mondoweiss - ‎2 hours ago‎

Nearly 30 years after it divested from corporations complicit in South African apartheid, the Presbyterian Church voted 310-303 to divest from three corporations involved with the Israeli military and its occupation. The vote means that $21 million of ...

Presbyterians Back Anti-Israel Divestment

Christian News Wire (press release) - ‎2 hours ago‎

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Presbyterian commissioners have voted to divest the 1.76 million-member denomination from three companies that do business with Israel. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly passed a ...

Presbyterians vote to divest as protest against Israel

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - ‎3 hours ago‎

Detroit — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest against Israeli policies toward Palestinians, voting to sell church stock in three companies whose ...

AJC: Presbyterian Divestment A Breach with Jews, Undermines Israeli ...

Virtual Press Office (press release) - ‎3 hours ago‎

DETROIT, June 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC called today's Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) decision to divest from major companies doing business with Israel a setback for efforts to attain a negotiated, sustainable Israeli-Palestinian peace ...

Presbyterian Assembly Says Gay Marriage is Christian

WBOC TV 16 - ‎3 hours ago‎

Commissioners and advisors wait in line to debate a vote on whether the church should recognize same-sex marriage at the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Cobo Hall, in Detroit, Thursday, June 19. (Photo: AP). DETROIT (AP)- The top ...

Presbyterians vote to divest from 3 firms that make products used by Israel

Detroit Free Press - ‎3 hours ago‎

In what supporters called a historic vote, Presbyterians voted late Friday 51%-49% to divest from three companies that make products used by Israel. Presbyterian Church U.S.A., an influential Protestant group meeting in Detroit this week for their biennial ...

Presbyterian Church USA joins BDS movement

San Diego Jewish World - ‎3 hours ago‎

Presbyterian Church USA DETROIT (Press Release)– The American Jewish Committee called Friday's Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) decision to divest from major companies doing business with Israel a setback for efforts to attain a negotiated, sustainable ...

Presbyterians Vote to Divest in Protest Against Israel

Newsmax.com - ‎3 hours ago‎

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has narrowly voted to divest from three companies in protest over Israeli treatment of Palestinians. The church's General Assembly passed the resolution Friday night by just seven votes, with a vote of 310-303. The move ...

US Presbyterians vote to divest from companies involved with the IDF

Haaretz - ‎3 hours ago‎

Divestment advocates narrowly outnumbered those opposed to the measure 310-303. General Assembly moderator Heath Rada, followed the results announcement with a call to Jews and Israelis that the vote did not reflect lack of love for them by the ...

Presbyterians at Detroit convention weigh divesting from 3 companies

The Detroit News - ‎3 hours ago‎

Andreis Coetzee, who is part of the Muskingum Valley Presbytery in Ohio, credited the church for forcing change in his native South Africa by divesting in companies that did business there and believes the time has come for divestment from companies that ...

Presbyterians to divest as protest against Israel - The ...

psdispatch.com/news/.../Presbyterians-to-divest-as-protest-against-Israel

21 mins ago - The final tally was 310-303. The move makes the denomination the most prominent U.S. religious group to endorse divestment in protest of the Israeli ...

221st General Assembly (2014) - PC(USA) OGA

oga.pcusa.org/section/ga/ga221/

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

34 mins ago - By a vote of 310-303, the Assembly approved an overture calling for divestment from Caterpillar Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions, companies some ...

US Presbyterians vote to divest from firms to pressure Israel

www.afp.com/.../us-presbyterians-vote-divest-firm...

Agence France‑Presse

57 mins ago - The 310 to 303 vote at the influential Protestant denomination's meeting in Detroit, Michigan, ... The measure also included a reaffirmation of Israel's right to exist, ...

_____________________________________________

Boycott Israel - Boycott Apartheid

2014-01-23T01:12:00.003-08:00

University of Michigan protest demanding boycott against Apartheid Israel.

Part of the grass-roots human rights movement for boycott and divestment and sanctions against apartheid.

_____________________________________________________

University of Michigan is urged to divest from Apartheid Israel -

2014-01-13T02:36:00.001-08:00

"Palestinian activist urges University to divest from Israel"

MICHIGAN DAILY

University of Michigan student newspaper

Ann Arbor, Michigan
January 13, 2014

At: http://www.michigandaily.com/news/palestinian-activist-speaks-u

With a focus on universal human rights and activism, Omar Barghouti — a key member of the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel — received a standing ovation from those in attendance at his guest lecture in Hutchins Hall Friday night.
"The very basis of BDS is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in that, a very basic concept that has been forgotten to an extent: that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," Barghouti said.

Barghouti, a Palestinian activist and commentator, explained BDS’s mission by focusing on what he said were oppressive Israeli policies, including a lack of access to education for many Palestinians...

...Students Allied for Freedom and Equality sponsored Barghouti’s visit to the University. SAFE collaborated with the Jewish Force for Peace and the Students for Justice in Palestine at University of Michigan, Dearborn to host his lecture.

The lecture followed last month’s controversy over #UMMockEviction, and a month after the American Studies Association and Association for Asian-American Studies endorsed an academic boycott of Israel...

________________________________________________

Big Victory for the Boycott-Israel Movement

2013-12-06T14:35:00.001-08:00

"Big Win for Boycott Movement"
Inside Higher Ed

December 5, 2013

At: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/12/05/council-american-studies-association-backs-boycott-israeli-universities

The National Council of the American Studies Association announced Wednesday that it has unanimously endorsed a boycott of Israeli universities and other Israeli institutions -- and urged its members to vote to make the boycott official policy of the association.

The move by the council, even if awaiting approval by the membership, is seen as a major victory for the movement for an academic boycott of Israel. The academic movement to boycott Israel has considerable support in Europe, but has been largely opposed by major academic associations in the United States, citing longstanding objections to countrywide boycotts as antithetical to academic freedom. But in April, the Association for Asian American Studies became the first disciplinary group to endorse the academic boycott of Israel, and the American Studies Association now appears to be the second.

Supporters of the boycott have argued that just the discussion of the idea at a meeting as large as the American Studies Association marks a significant departure for American academe. A post on the pro-Palestinian site The Electronic Intifada said that the debate over the proposal indicated that "the taboo on boycotting Israel has been broken..."

More Divestment Resolutions are Approved:

2013-03-14T12:31:00.003-07:00

These news items are all from March 14, 2013:

1. Clackmannanshire Council adopts policy of boycott against Israel, & support of the Palestinian freeedom struggle. See the above announcement from Twitter.

-- It is the third Scottish council to approve a resolution supporting boycott against Israel.

2. "UC San Diego Student Government calls for divestment from Israeli Occupation", at: http://www.clickrally.com/ucsd-divestment-from-israeli-occupation/

3. "UCSD Divestment 2013 Vote"
(Start watching 4 minutes into the video)
At: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzVkNHWpNfw

Today's divestment resolution was approved by the University of California's San Diego campus student government, by a large majority of 20 in favor, only 12 against, and 1 abstaining.

It follows recent votes for divestment at the student governments of UC Riverside and UC Irvine, and many others.
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Divestment victory at the University of California-Riverside:

2013-03-07T08:12:00.002-08:00

Another Student Government Enters the History of the Palestine Freedom Movement --

Overwhelming Vote for Divestment against Apartheid "Israel" at the University of California-Riverside.

The vote was 11-5, and it overrode a veto that attempted to kill the divestment resolution.

This follows a recent vote for divestment at UC-Irvine's student government (in the L.A. Times at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/uc-irvine-student-leaders-urge-uc-to-divest-in-some-companies.html ).

It also follows earlier student government votes for divestment at:

* Evergreen State College in 2010 (http://electronicintifada.net/content/evergreen-state-students-overwhelmingly-pass-divestment-votes/1067 ),

* Wayne State University (at http://tinyurl.com/85r6um2 ),

* Arizona State University in 2012 (at http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora/bds-roundup-arizona-state-university-student-government-votes-divest-israel ),

* The University of Michigan-Dearborn (at http://michigandaily.com/content/dearborn-student-govt-demands-divestment ),

* Carleton University graduate students in 2012 (at http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/canadian-first-carleton-university-students-pass-israel-occupation-divestment )

Also:

* The University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty senate approved its own divestment resolution (at http://michigandaily.com/content/faculty-senate-wisc-passes-divestment-bill ),

* MEChA, the largest association of Chicano youth in the U.S., voted overwhelmingly at its 2012 national conference to endorse the global call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel ( http://www.nationalmecha.org/archives/2012/03/national_mecha_endorses_palestinian_boycott_call_against_israel.php ),

* South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, voted to make boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel part of its official policy in December 2012 (at http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2012/12/anc-takes-firm-position-in-solidarity.html ), and

* The Olympia Food Co-op, in 2010, voted to boycott all Israeli products (at http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/21/1310754/israel-cleaned-from-co-op-shelves.html )

In these votes, every argument that apartheid could make was rejected. After all, the arguments favoring Apartheid Israel are identical to the arguments made to preserve the old dead Apartheid State of South Africa.

Furthermore, Apartheid South Africa was tighly allied to Apartheid Israel. (See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/feb/07/southafrica.israel )

Another divestment vote is coming at UC San Diego next week.
UCSD just adjourned their meeting following eight hours of divestment debate last night (see http://www.ucsdguardian.org/news-and-features/campus/item/26498-divestment-vote-postponed )

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Protest against Israel torturing a Palestinian to Death:

2013-02-25T01:58:00.000-08:00

A February 2013 Gaza protest -- against Israel's torturing a Palestinian to death:

Isn't it time to demand a total boycott against Israel?
Isn't it time to cut all ties to the apartheid state?

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"Boycott Israeli apartheid"-- In the University of Pennsylvania student paper:

2013-02-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

Boycott Israeli apartheid

Guest Column

Omar Barghouti at Penn: the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, one year later

By PennBDS · February 5, 2013, 12:10 am

Source: THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN,

University of Pennsylvania student newspaper.

At: http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/02/boycott-israeli-apartheid

Tonight at 7 p.m. in Claudia Cohen Hall, G17 Auditorium, PennBDS — with Philly BDS, Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace, Philadelphia Jews for a Just Peace, Temple Students for Justice in Palestine, the American Friends Service Committee and the Christian-Jewish Allies of Greater Philadelphia — will host Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Given the fortuitous timing of Mr. Barghouti’s talk — one year after the National BDS Conference held at Penn last February — we would like to reflect on the progress that BDS and the Palestinian non-violent resistance movement have made over the last year. But first, some background.

The official call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel — modeled on the decades-long campaign to end South African apartheid — was issued by Palestinian civil society organizations in 2005....

...In addition to the nonviolent activism by Palestinians and Jewish Israelis of conscience throughout the past year, on Jan. 31, the United Nations Human Rights Council ruled that Israeli settlements violate the Geneva Conventions and took the unprecedented step of recommending that all states and corporations cease doing business with any entity connected to the settlements.

By endorsing a full settlement boycott, the Human Rights Council aligns itself with those working on the grassroots level globally to promote justice for Palestinians. We would like to highlight some of the most significant victories of the BDS movement this past year.

• In March 2012, on both Palestinian Land Day and Cesar Chavez Day, the national association for Chicano students, M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlan) officially endorsed the BDS call.

• In April, the student government at the University of Massachusetts in Boston voted to divest from Boeing, a company that profits from Israeli human rights abuses.

• In May, thanks to the work of Philly BDS and others, Columbia Law School professor Katherine Franke withdrew from the annual LGBT Equality Forum in Philadelphia, in protest of the summit’s decision to highlight Israel as its “featured nation,” with a keynote by Israel’s ambassador to the United States Michael Oren.

• In June, Arizona University’s student government demanded that the university divest from any companies profiting from the Israeli occupation. Also in June, thanks to the efforts of Jewish Voice for Peace, TIAA-CREF, one of the country’s largest investment funds, divested all shares in their Social Choice Funds portfolio from Caterpillar, a company that manufactures the weaponized bulldozers used by the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian homes.

• In July, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) adopted a full settlement boycott of goods made in illegal Israeli settlements.

• In November, the Associated Students at University of California, Irvine unanimously called for divestment from companies that profit from the occupation. Also in November, at the behest of BDS groups, Stevie Wonder refused to play for a Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces benefit in Los Angeles.

• At the end of last year, the governing party in South Africa, the African National Congress, which also led the anti-apartheid struggle, voted to make BDS part of its official policy.

These victories symbolize the growing refusal of people around the world to silently comply with Israel’s denial of freedom and self-determination to millions of Palestinians on the basis of their ethnic and religious background. We invite you all to hear more about this ongoing struggle at Mr. Barghouti’s talk tonight.

Protest against AIPAC (the Israel lobby) at their Southfield, Michigan synagogue event:

2013-02-05T08:25:00.001-08:00

Click on photo to enlarge it.

SOUTHFIELD -- 10 human rights campaigners held a peaceful vigil to protest the 2013 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) event held at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan on January 28. A message on the congregation's website states "Our synagogue partners with AIPAC, America's pro-Israel lobby, in educating our community on issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship."

This originally appeared in the Arab American News (Dearborn, Michigan), February 2-8, 2013, page 16.
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Boycott and divestment campaigns against "Israel" are continuing

2012-11-26T07:56:00.001-08:00

Boyciott, divestment, and sanctions resolutions won overwhelming support in student association votes during November 2012, at the University of California-Irvine (UCI) and also at the York University graduate students association.

In fact, the UCI student government vote was unanimous.

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Divestment against Apartheid Israel is Spreading

2012-11-15T14:35:00.002-08:00

"Wash Your Hands of Bloody Investments!"

At a Berkeley, California demonstration for divestment against Israeli Apartheid:

Soldiers of "Israel" with their captive:

2012-07-25T12:50:00.005-07:00

Boycott "Israel".

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