Last updated August 22, 2024
Divestment campaigns work! Below are divestment achievements since January 2024. Many divestment actions during previous years are recorded here.
Following the BDS National Committee, which represents the broadest Palestinian coalition and coordinates the global BDS movement, this list includes all decisions that center Palestinian rights and commit, in a reasonable time-frame, to financial disclosure and/or a divestment process.
Please share with us divestment achievements we have missed.
AXA
August 21
Following a years-long campaign, Europe's largest insurance firm had divested its shares in all major Israeli banks. This follows AXA's 2019 divestment from Elbit Systems, the largest Israeli weapons manufacturer.
Austin Pride
August 10
Following community pressure leading up to the city's 2024 pride parade, who's past sponsors included Lockheed Martin, Austin Pride committed to "evaluate future sponsors based on BDS criteria" and to "exclude weapons manufacturers and unethical corporations" from their events.
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)
August 7
Following "sustained pressure from the pension fund’s members, concerned over Israel’s human rights record," the U.K.'s largest private-sector pension fund has reportedly sold some £80 million in Israeli assets "including government debt and Israeli currency in the past six months."
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021
July 27
The Union voted to divest from weapons manufacturers and companies that build technology such as artificial intelligence and surveillance technology for military use; private prison companies, immigrant detention companies and border patrol contractors; companies that profit from apartheid, colonization, and ethnic cleansing; and the fossil fuel industry. SEIU Local 1021 is one of the largest unions in Northern California, representing over 60,000 local government, healthcare , and non-profit employees.
City of Alameda, CA
July 2
Following months of pressure by Alameda Families and Friends for Ceasefire, Alameda City Council voted to add the following language to its investment policy statement: "Investments are to be made that reflect the the responsibility of city government to its citizens. Alternative investments, which enhance the quality of life, will be given full consideration. This includes investments in companies that support the well being of people and the planet. The City of Alameda will not invest in industries that facilitate or contribute to tobacco consumption, gambling, fossil fuels, or weapons of any kind."
Presbyterian Church (USA)
July 1
The General Assembly of the Church voted to divest from bonds issued by the governments of Israel, Morocco, and Turkey, as part of a commitment to not invest in "countries that are currently maintaining a prolonged military occupation and have been subject to United Nations resolutions related to their occupation." The Church also voted to "begin focused engagement" General Electric and Palantir Technologies, with possible divestment recommendations if the engagement does not move these companies into compliance with the Church's policies.
South by Southwest (SXSW)
June 27
After more than 80 artists withdrew from SXSW 2024 over its partnership with the U.S. Army and weapons manufacturer RTX, the festival announced that it is revising its sponsorship model and that, “as a result, the US army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”
Wesleyan University
May 18
After a 3-week student encampment, the university agreed to a process to divest from certain industries related to the military industrial complex and/or the conflict in Palestine-Israel. The process, which includes students and faculty, would culminate in amending Wesleyan’s investment policies to add these issues to its existing commitment to divest from civilian gun manufacturing, cigarette companies, private prisons, and fossil fuels. Wesleyan confirmed it has no current holdings in companies on the divestment list and agreed to disclose its holdings in other weapon manufacturers and related companies.
University of Washington
May 17
Following a month-long student encampment, the UW administration agreed to establish a path for divestment, establishing an Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, which will determine what “actions or inactions of company or companies are deemed morally reprehensible." The Committee will include student representatives, and the administration committed to support the outcome of the Committee's work. The administration also committed to increase transparency of the university's investments and to "be transparent about Boeing’s support for the University so anyone opposed can decline Boeing support."
San Francisco State University
May 13
After a 2-week student and faculty encampment, SFSU announced it would add “a human rights-based investment strategy, including divesting from direct investments in weapons manufacturers and limiting other such indirect investments.” The University also committed to improve its public disclosure of its investments. By the end of the summer, SFSU had sold shares it held in Caterpillar, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo, and Palantir.
California Institute of the Arts
May 9
After negotiating with students, CalArts established an Ethical Investment Workgroup, “to better align the Institute’s investments with the intention to divest from any entity directly, consistently, and knowingly involved in violations of human rights or violations of international law, particularly in conflict zones around the world.”
Union Theological Seminary
May 9
After working on this issue since November, 2003, the Seminary Board of Trustees adopted a policy to divest from “companies substantially and intractably benefiting from the war in Palestine,” including both its direct and indirect (commingled/fund) holdings. The Seminary is revising its investment policy statement “to include an overt reference to the Israel-Palestine hostilities, in addition to current robust policies regarding fossil fuels, military weapons, private prisons, etc.”
Trinity College Dublin
May 8
After a 5-day student encampment, the College committed to “complete a divestment from investments in Israeli companies that have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
California State University, Sacramento
May 7
After a 9-day student encampment, CSU Sacramento created a policy on socially responsible investment which includes investigating “not having direct investments in corporations and funds that profit from genocide, ethnic cleansing, and activities that violate fundamental human rights.”
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
May 6
After negotiating with students and faculty, SUNY ESF College Foundation disclosed that it holds no direct investments in weapons manufacturers. The Foundation's Board of Trustees is in the process of reviewing the College’s investment policy with the goal of creating guidelines for evaluating divestment requests.
Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia
May 4
After negotiating with students, the university agreed to disclose information about its investments within 30 days and to “review proposals presented by the students related to their desire to see divestment of specific investments.”
University of California, Riverside
May 3
After a 4-day student encampment, UC Riverside committed to gradually disclose all of its investments and to form a task force, including students and faculty, to explore investing “in a manner that will be financially and ethically sound for the university with consideration to the companies involved in arms manufacturing and delivery.”
Goldsmith University of London
May 3
After students occupied a university building, the university agreed to a series of demands, including reviewing and revising its ethical investment policy. The review “will also explore switching to an alternative fund manager on an ethical basis in line with the new investment policy.”
City of Richmond, CA
April 30
Richmond's city council voted to divest from companies "that are involved in Israel's violation of Palestinian rights," in addition to other issues, including prison labor, mass surveillance, and the U.S.-Mexico border.
United Methodist Church
April 30
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church voted to not invest in bonds issued by Israel, Turkey, and Morocco, because these states are “holding subject populations under prolonged military occupation.” This is the first such divestment action by a major Christian denomination, and it follows previous decisions by the Church to divest from G4S, Israeli company Shikun & Binui, and the five largest Israeli banks, because of their “relation to the illegal Israeli settlements and other violations of Palestinian human rights,” as well as the Church’s call for a “global boycott of settlements products.”
Evergreen State College
April 30
Following a week-long student encampment, TESC agreed to establish a task force “charged with proposing revisions to investment policies, including new proposed language on socially responsible investments/divestments,” which will “address divestment from companies that profit from gross human rights violations and/or the occupation of Palestinian territories.”
Brown University
April 30
After a week-long student hunger strike, followed by a week-long student encampment, the university agreed that its Corporation would discuss and vote on divesting from “companies that facilitate the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territory.”
Northwestern University
April 29
After a 5-day student encampment, the University agreed to a series of steps, including disclosing information about its investments and reestablishing its Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility, with representation from students, faculty, and staff.
Portland State University
April 26
Following student protests, the university declared it “will pause seeking or accepting any further gifts or grants from the Boeing Company” until further debate within the campus community.
UAW Local 2320
January 27
The National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW) voted “to investigate whether it holds any Israel bonds or has investments in companies or organizations with ties to Israel and inform NOLSW members of the outcome of this investigation; Divest from all Israel bonds and investments in entities with direct ties to Israel; and as part of regular audits, certify that it continues to not hold such bonds or investments.”
City of Hayward, CA
January 23
The Hayward City Council voted to divest from four companies - Caterpillar, Chevron, Hyundai, and Intel - becoming the first city in the U.S. to divest due to concerns over Palestinian rights.
