25/01/2024
HAYWARD, Calif. — After months of work, Hayward residents have succeeded in pushing the city to divest from four corporations with ties to the state of Israel, which is currently facing charges of genocide against the Palestinian people at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
After an hour of public comment largely in support of the move, the Hayward City Council voted, 4-3, on Tuesday to divest $1.6 million from Caterpillar, Intel, Chevron and Hyundai. Mayor Mark Salinas and councilmembers Julie Roche and Ray Bonilla were opposed, saying the decision was "irresponsible."
"I think it's irresponsible policymaking to make this kind of decision on the fly," Roche said.
The city's investment policy was on the consent agenda, which is generally a package of routine actions that are approved with one motion and without much discussion. However, Councilmember George Syrop pulled the policy and recommended divesting from the four companies, as well as amending the city's investment policy to prevent any city funds from going toward companies identified by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, a nonviolent protest movement modeled after the South African anti-apartheid struggle.
Members of the city staff and council expressed reservations about tethering the city's investments to the BDS Movement's list and suggested broadening the policy to divest from companies supporting any countries engaged in war crimes or human rights abuses. Syrop agreed to kick the divestment policy back to the Council Budget and Finance Committee, but maintained they should move forward with divesting from the four companies.
Councilmembers Angela Andrews, Dan Goldstein and Francisco Zermeño agreed, prompting cheers from the audience.
HAYWARD, Calif. — After months of work, Hayward residents have succeeded in pushing the city to divest from four corporations with ties to the state of Israel, which is currently facing charges of …
