Dozens of volunteers collected over 10,000 signatures from Providence voters to place an ordinance on the ballot requiring the city to divest from countries and companies profiting from genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and prolonged military occupation. On November 3, voters will have the chance to have a say in whether we want our public funds invested in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

By voting YES on Ballot Measure #7, we will make history.

Providence voters want our tax dollars to be invested in helping our communities flourish, not in death and destruction. Rhode Island is a small state, but we can set a big example to show popular support for Palestinian freedom.

You may have heard there’s a ceasefire in Gaza, but Israel is continuing to carry out airstrikes, starve Palestinians, and occupy over half the strip. Meanwhile, the US is directly overseeing the occupation through Trump’s “Board of Peace.”

Many of the companies we’re targeting are the same ones who funded Trump’s rise to power and now provide weapons and surveillance tech to his regime. Now, as Trump wages war on Iran, it’s more important than ever to act at the local level to end support for war crimes.

The fate of our communities in the US is directly tied to that of Palestinians. Agencies like ICE and CBP train with the Israeli military, and the brutal tactics now being deployed in our cities were perfected on the streets of the West Bank.

Even though there’s a “ceasefire” in Gaza, Israel is continuing to carry out indiscriminate airstrikes. It also still militarily occupies over half the territory. Meanwhile it conducts pogroms and wages economic warfare on Palestinians in the West Bank.

We have never seen a bigger gap between the stance of the American people against Israeli apartheid and the actions taken by the politicians — like Brett Smiley — who are supposed to represent us, but are instead committed to deepening US complicity in Israel’s crimes.

With the Trump administration and federal government determined to continue supporting Israel’s genocide, it’s more important now than ever for our governments to act at the local level to sever US economic support for genocide and apartheid. By pursuing a ballot initiative, we are putting the power to dictate how our public funds are invested back into the peoples’ hands.

Almost 10,000 Providence residents signed in support of divestment, hundreds of volunteers canvassed and knocked doors, and the response was clear: Providence residents don’t want our city to invest in war and genocide!

Ethical investing is divesting from companies and countries that don’t align with one’s values. It’s straightforward, and it’s also one of the fastest growing areas in finance. There are entire companies and funds who only do this.  

Pro-war pundits and AIPAC-funded politicians shielding the Israeli military and government from accountability pretend that divestment is complicated. But it’s not. 

In 2006, Providence became the first American city to divest from companies facilitating the genocide in Darfur. Providence is also a leader in divesting from fossil fuels. We’re proud to live in a city with such a long history of aligning our investments with our values. These divestments had no reported negative economic consequences.

Divesting from genocide and severe human rights violations is both moral and economically smart. The less money these companies and countries get from people like us, the less harm they can do.

Ballot Measure #7 will make sure that our city isn’t invested in companies that power the Israeli military’s genocide and Israeli apartheid. This includes companies like Axon Enterprises, which makes tear gas and other equipment for the Israeli military and police (as well as ICE here at home) and Caterpillar, which provides bulldozers used to demolish Palestinian homes in Gaza and the West Bank. 

This initiative will start a process by which the treasurer and the board of investment commissioners work to align the city’s investments with the wishes of Providence voters. Nothing is going to happen overnight. 

We estimate that over time, at least 2.5 million dollars could be diverted from companies committing genocide. What's more, this measure would put an official end to the city’s 20 year history of investing in Israel Bonds, which function as no-strings-attached loans to the Israeli government.

Our city’s investments can and should earn money for the key programs and retirement funds our people need — and reflect our values too.

We can divest and do right by our city workers, retirees, and taxpayers. We worked with experts to make sure Ballot Measure 7 has air-tight phrasing ensuring our elected officials prioritize human rights — but never at the expense of their legal and ethical responsibilities to city workers, retirees, and the public. Question 7 is both do-able and fiscally responsible, and ethical investing is good for the long-term health of our city workers’ retirement. The proposed ordinance also has provisions that allow the city leeway in cases where changing our investments would conflict with the city’s fiduciary duty to residents.

Studies show that divesting from companies involved in grave human rights violations and instead investing ethically can generate about the same amount of funds – and can sometimes even generate more. For example, a Morgan Stanley study from last year found that investment funds that took ethical considerations into account outperformed traditional funds. 

Some of these investments in Israel, like Israel Bonds, actually perform poorly and are unreliable relative to other more ethical investments. City leaders pursue these investments for political reasons, putting their support for Israel over the economic and ethical interests of Providence residents.

For retirement funds, which require long-term reliable growth, we should invest in more stable companies that ensure healthy, long-haul growth for workers and retirees.

This initiative was undertaken because we want our city to stop investing in companies that profit from the genocide in Gaza and the Israeli apartheid regime. But it’s also important this law targets any country that is committing these crimes, not just Israel, now and in the future.

Ultimately, it will be up to the city treasurer, the next administration in City Hall, and our movement to ensure this measure is implemented fairly and in accordance with voters’ wishes.

Providence for Palestine is a multifaith, multiracial, and intergenerational coalition. The coalition includes Jewish Voice for Peace RI, RI Democratic Socialists of America, Reclaim RI, and AFT Local 6516 as well as many unaffiliated volunteers. We are dedicated to ending our city’s complicity in Israeli apartheid and the genocide of Palestinians. 

Rhode Island is a small state, but Providence can set a big example for initiatives like this to continue to spread across the country and show popular support for Palestinian freedom and opposition to militarism around the world.

Volunteer with the campaign! We need every supporter’s help to make sure every Providence voter hears about this initiative before November 3. Fill out our volunteer form to get involved. 

Spread the word! Follow us on Instagram @pvd_for_palestine and share our posts to let your friends and family know to vote Yes to Divest!