Debate on divestment and Israel exploded on college campuses last night. For the second time in two weeks, Loyola University’s student government voted to call on their school to divest from corporations involved in the Israeli occupation. But in the vote that captured the most attention, the University of Michigan’s student government voted down a call for divestment. Still, students in support of the resolution said it was a victory to spark a campus-wide debate on the occupation and Palestine.
Tag Archives: divestment
U. Mich student government move to table divestment resolution sparks uproar
The University of Michigan student government’s move to indefinitely postpone a vote on a resolution to divest from occupation profiteers has sparked an uproar on campus. The tabling of the resolution caused immediate outrage, with hundreds of students holding an impromptu rally outside to call for their school to divest from corporations like Caterpillar. And last night, over 100 students declared an “indefinite” sit-in at the student government building, calling for a vote on the divestment bill.
Loyola University Chicago student union passes resolution to divest from Israeli occupation
On Tuesday night, Loyola University Chicago became the first Jesuit University in the United States to pass a student government resolution to divest from companies complicit in aiding the Israeli occupation. The Senate voted 26-0, with 2 abstentions, to call on the school to remove its holdings from eight corporations that play an active role in the human rights abuses committed by the Israeli government.
As TIAA-CREF gathers for annual meeting in North Carolina, trustees should heed lessons of the civil rights movement
Here in North Carolina, we know that student leadership on issues of human and civil rights can change the world. Every day I pass by the Woolworth’s on Elm Street in Greensboro where the sit-in movement began on February 1, 1960. What started with students demanding they be served a cup of coffee helped lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, desegregating public spaces across the country. And yet today, TIAA-CREF supports that same kind of racism through its investment in Veolia Environment, a company directly connected with the operation of segregated buses in the Occupied West Bank.
Zahi Khouri to Methodist conference: ‘We don’t need charity; we want freedom to help ourselves’
When United Methodist delegates gather as a plenary to vote on church policies this week, two petitions will be presented that reflect opposing approaches to helping Palestinians.
Moment of Truth: Report from day two of the United Methodist General Conference
Delegates to the United Methodist Church General Conference (UMGC) were shown Wednesday a vision of what the future could look like if Israel were to finally end its control of the Palestinian territories.
’60 Minutes’ report boosts divestment proponents at Methodist church convention
The Israeli government was pleased that a “60 Minutes” piece on Palestinian Christians did not air on Christmas or Easter. But the report did air a week before the United Methodist Church’s convention, where a divestment resolution is being considered.
Christian group dedicated to derailing divestment bankrolled by settler-funding philanthropy

Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East markets itself as a liberal group working for peace in Israel/Palestine. But its budget is bankrolled by philanthropy that funds settlements and Islamophobia.
Put it down and walk away?! (an exchange over BDS, and Israel, between 2 Jewish lawyers)
Two weeks back we reported on a debate on Jewish Perspectives on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions at a Brooklyn church (videos here). Adam Horowitz moderated, and Kathleen Peratis, a lawyer and member of the J Street board, argued against boycott. David Samel, who is also a lawyer, attended the event. He later sent Peratis a […]
Massachusetts State Treasurer candidate has anti-Iran agenda
Steve Grossman, one of the candidates in next Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Treasurer, is a past national president of AIPAC (The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee). Grossman, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, has been very coy about publicly admitting his involvement with pro-Israel lobbying. Although AIPAC has been an important part of his […]