UPDATED
The state’s Democrat governor had condemned the issue before a decision was reversed.
Israel is no longer the subject of a protest and withdrawal resolution passed by the union of the City University of New York system.
The Professional Staff Congress rescinded its resolution in support of” Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions”, just one month after it first passed.
” Moments ago, after massive pressure, public backlash, legal action by S. A. F. E. Campus, and dozens of resignations from Jewish and other members of the union, the PSC-CUNY ( @psc_cuny ) voted to rescind January’s vote to adopt BDS as policy and to divest its investment funds from Israel”, SAFE Campus wrote on X last night. The team advocates for Israeli students, faculty, and personnel at the common school program.
According to past reports from the New York Post, the January decision” told its income system that it supports’complete disinvestment from Israel ‘.”
According to the NY Post, the coalition would also be required to “dives from any investment car that includes in its collection stocks and bonds of Jewish organizations and Israeli government securities no later than the end of January 2026.”
According to a media release SAFE Campus sent The College Fix, the initial solution was approved by a 73-70 voting.
Major Breaking News at CUNY:
CUNY’s Faculty Union Seats to Retract its Just-Adopted BDS Plan
Moments ago, after massive pressure, public backlash, legal action by S. A. F. E. Campus, and dozens of resignations from Jewish and other members of the union, the PSC-CUNY ( @psc_cuny )…
— SAFE CAMPUS ( @_SAFECAMPUS) February 21, 2025
However, the PSC rejected the quality 113 to 62 on day.
The initial decision was criticized by Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul and CUNY management.
Hochul told the Times of Israel,” In my first year as chancellor, I signed an executive order to sell public funds from organizations that support the dangerous BDS movement, and that order continues to be in consequence.” I vehemently oppose the quality that the PSC-CUNY representatives only narrowly approved, and I will continue to fight against hate and hatred in all forms.
Our school has consistently condemned BDS action, and we condemn the quality that Professional Staff Congress delegates passed, CUNY told the exact outlet. This voting does not indicate the university’s place or values, according to the PSC-CUNY organization. CUNY does not engage in any kind of BDS activity.
Jeffrey Lax, president of SAFE CAMPUS and a Distinguished teacher, told The Fix after publishing:
I am thrilled that the coalition –solely for its own survival—rescinded its cruel, unlawful, and racist solution and I am hopeful that this is a pattern that catches on nationwide. However, it is important to keep in mind that nothing about the PSC’s cruel, racist existence changes as a result. The PSC is still the same entity held accountable by the EEOC for discriminating against Zionist and Conservative Jews and consciously holding events on Friday nights so that they could not go, and the union also has a distinct racist pro-BDS quality from 2021 on its books. Although this is a good place to start, bad people did it for the wrong reasons. There is still a long way to go to reform this union and make it more tolerant for Jews and everyone else.
The CUNY system has previously faced criticism for antisemitism. A 146-page report last year, written by a former judge, said the system’s antisemitism policies need to be” significantly overhauled”. Gov. Hochul had requested the report.
As The Fix previously reported, recommendations included the creation of a centralized center for antisemitism and hate, improvement of the complaint portal, establishment of a victim’s advocate position, coordination of safety protocols with law enforcement, diversity training, and an encouragement that leadership denounce hate.
In a report highlighting antisemitism on campus, SAFE Campus released its own report in 2023.
In May 2023, a CUNY law school speaker’s remarks about Israel were also met with criticism.
” The law is a manifestation of white supremacy”, Fatima Mohammed told the crowd.
Mohammed also criticized the university for speaking out against Israel and” Zionism” in the speech.
The law” continues” to “oppress” and” suppress” people in America and “around the world”, the daughter of Yemeni immigrants said.
Mohammed, addressing her fellow grads, said they” joined this institution” to learn how to fight against the “facade of legal neutrality” and to support activists and organizers in fighting against the” systems of oppression”.
She ended her speech by saying that other “empires of destruction” had also “fallen”.
Editor’s note: The article has been updated with a quote from Jeffrey Lax.
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