One of the largest schools in the California State University system has made a significant decision to pursue an investment strategy divested from corporations and funds that profit from genocide, ethnic cleansing, and activities that violate fundamental human rights. The announcement from Sacramento State came after student protests calling for the university to cut financial ties with Israel.
Student activists have been successful in getting their demands met at Sacramento State, as well as at least six other universities across the country. These demands vary but generally include full transparency into university investments and divestment from companies profiting from Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
The agreements reached between student protesters and university administrations have avoided the violence seen at other campuses where police were called in to clear out encampments. The movement toward divestment from Israel’s actions in Palestine is gaining momentum, with more universities considering the demands of their students.
Sacramento State issued three policy updates in response to the student protests, affirming its opposition to genocide, ethnic cleansing, and other human rights violations. The school also committed to pursuing a human rights-based approach to investments, avoiding direct investments in companies that profit from such violations.
The University of California, Riverside, also responded positively to protests by acknowledging the suffering in Gaza and committing to transparency in its investments process. Other universities, such as Evergreen State College, Brown University, and Rutgers University, have agreed to discuss their investment processes with students and consider divestment proposals.
While some agreements were reached without physical escalations on campus, others came after police intervention. Northwestern University and the University of Minnesota are among the schools where agreements were reached following protests and police involvement.
The movement for university divestment campaigns has historical precedent, with successful campaigns against apartheid South Africa and fossil fuel companies. As more colleges take the demand for divestment from Israel seriously, student organizers emphasize that this is just the beginning.
Student activists stress the importance of concrete commitments to divestment that name specific corporations profiting from human rights violations. By holding university administrations accountable and pushing for real policy changes, student organizers believe they can make a difference in ending complicity in genocide and unethical investments.
In conclusion, the recent wave of university divestment campaigns regarding Israel’s actions in Palestine shows the power of student activism in influencing institutional decisions. As more universities consider the demands of their students, the movement for divestment from companies profiting from human rights violations continues to grow.