July 19, New York, NY – At rush hour Tuesday in midtown Manhattan, seventy-five New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds protested outside the headquarters of US retirement-fund giant TIAA-CREF, demanding that it end its investment in the Israeli occupation. The New York demonstration is a part of national divestment campaign initiated by Jewish Voice for Peace which saw similar actions in twenty cities nationwide marking the day of TIAA-CREF’s annual shareholder meeting, held this year in Charlotte, NC.
According to reports from Charlotte, the TIAA-CREF shareholder meeting was dominated by discussions about divestment from Israel, despite TIAA-CREF’s quashing of a shareholder resolution on the issue. Last week Israel sparked worldwide controversy by passing an anti-boycott law in an attempt to stop divestment efforts like the TIAA-CREF campaign by making support of boycotts a punishable offense.
What: Street protest for divestment from Israel's occupation, with creative chants and songs
Why: July 19th is the day of TIAA-CREF's annual shareholders' meeting, held this year in Charlotte, NC. As part of a national campaign, human rights activists in cities across the US will protest to ask retirement-fund giant TIAA-CREF to divest from the Israeli occupation. TIAA-CREF's motto is "For the Greater Good," but this year, TIAA-CREF leadership refused to allow a shareholder resolution for divestment from Israeli occupation to be placed on the ballot at the annual shareholder meeting. Tell TIAA-CREF they can't escape the call for divestment!
Organized by Adalah-NY: The NY Campaign for the Boycott of Israel; CODEPINK-NYC; Jewish Voice for Peace - NYC; Jewish Voice for Peace - Westchester; Brooklyn For Peace; WESPAC Foundation; Women in Black, Union Square; Jews Say No!