In June 2014, the Presbyterian Church (USA) decided to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions. JVP is proud to have worked in interfaith partnership with our Presbyterian brothers and sisters for the past decade leading to this monumental vote, which was the fruit of 10 years of intentional dialogue, corporate engagement, careful research, and travel to the region by Church leaders and members.
The We Divest campaign compelled retirement fund giant TIAA-CREF to drop Caterpillar and Veolia from it’s Social Choice Fund. These actions, by the largest retirement fund in the US, defined profiting from violations of Palestinian rights as outside what it means to be socially responsible. Since 2011, over 20,000 shareholders, professors, students, public health workers and community activists joined JVP and allies in recognizing that investing in companies that profit from the Israeli occupation is irresponsible and unethical.
JVP- North Carolina chapter, leading a coalition of faith groups, social justice organizers, students, and peace activists, won a landmark victory when Durham County became the first US municipality to drop G4S because of its role in perpetuating injustice in Israel/Palestine.
From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to Sun City, South Africa, people of conscience have used the tools of boycott, divestment, and sanctions to win equality, freedom, and fairness.
Student activists are at the forefront of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, passing divestment resolutions and defending free speech. Are you a student or educator on campus and ready to join the fight?
JVP CAMPUS ORGANIZINGSodastream is stealing Palestinian land from the West Bank to the Negev while crassly appealing to environmentalists. Many JVP chapters are leading the charge to de-shelve sodastream from local and national stores. Join a current campaign or consider starting one yourself!
Hewlett-Packard is producing biometric ID cards which help Israel enforce its tiered citizenship structure that separates Palestinian families from each other and from their ancestral homes. In addition, Hewlett-Packard profits from the blockade of Gaza by providing information technology to the Israeli navy and computer equipment to the Israeli military.
Join churches, campuses and others worldwide in demanding HP stop profiting from segregation and occupation.
Pledge to Support Divestment from HPView materials and resources from our friends:
Visualizing Palestine’s “Segregated by Color”
Coalition for Jerusalem “Jerusalemites Campaign”
Who Profits “Technologies of Control”
G4S profits from providing security services for military checkpoints in the West Bank, in Israeli detention centers, and throughout illegal settlements on Palestinian land. Across the globe G4S contracts and investments are being dropped, reflecting a growing movement for economic non-cooperation in the company’s role in perpetuating injustice in Israel/Palestine.
Just this past year, G4S has been dropped by the Gates Foundation, the Methodist Church, and Durham County, NC. Sign up to receive updates or to get connected with local work to DropG4S!
Arts and culture are powerful. We know that art can be used to make and remake our world, and that it can draw attention to or help obscure the truth. In 2005, Israel proudly announced their efforts to use culture to distract from human rights abuses with an effort called Brand Israel. Brand Israel is a well-funded campaign to draw attention to Israel’s arts and culture, for instance their orchestras, their treatment of LGBT communities, or their biotech industries, in order to distract from their decades-long oppression and occupation of Palestinians.
JVP ARTIST COUNCILInterfaith Partners in Action is an effort of faith-based individuals and organizations supporting #churchdivest efforts in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and beyond. Join the growing number of interfaith clergy, religious leaders and lay people from many different faith traditions, united in their support for divestment from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation. Want to be connected to opportunities for action? Ready to add your voice? Contact us: interfaithtumblr@gmail.com
Our Jewish tradition, and our experiences building community to challenge oppression, teaches us that we can learn through conversation. So we got together and made Go & Learn, and resource for conversations in the Jewish community about the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. Join us in learning, in teaching, and in moving our communities to action.
We are part of a legacy of non-violent action and solidarity to achieve justice and basic human dignity. The tactics of boycotts stretch from the Montgomery Bus Boycotts to the anti-Apartheid movements. From todays student movements taking on fossil fuels and labor rights, divestment is a key tool for building power, from campuses to your city council. Learn more about the shoulders upon which Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions rests.
Are you having conversations in your school, faith community, city council or family about the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions and non-violent resistance to Israeli’s policies? Read why we at Jewish Voice for Peace are proud to be part of this movement which values dignity and human rights for all people.