Following anti-Israel protests, school is scheduled to withdraw$ 164 million from protection and technology companies.
Following decades of dialogues with pro-Palestinian student activists, San Francisco State University made plans last week to remove its investments from four businesses operating in Israel.
Following protests led by Students for Gaza SFSU’s demonstrations demanding that the school be barred from Israeli-related businesses, the university made the decision.
The university agreed to sell$ 163 million of assets in” aerospace and defense firm Lockheed Martin, stock positions in European defence company Leonardo, and U. S. based data analysis business Palantir Technologies”, according to NBC Bay Area.
Next week, the protesters celebrated the withdrawal at a rally attended by over 100 students.
” By standing with us, we were able to be the first school that was able to withdraw from major arms makers Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar, Palantir and Leonardo”, a scholar named Adeel announced at the march.
In an Instagram post posted on August 27, kids for Gaza SFSU also expressed their gratitude for the walk.
” Through the work of the numerous students who are students in GUPS ( General Union of Palestine Students ) at SFSU and SFG ( Students for Gaza ), we have been able to successfully ensure that our money is not funding GENOCIDE!!” the caption reads.
As a result of the rallies, the college held a dialogue conference with kids in May. According to ABC 7 News, the students happily disassembled their camps and pretended that discussions may continue over the summer.
Over the summer, individuals for Gaza met with SFSU instructors and officials via Zoom to discuss the deal.
The student protesters urged the university to update its expense plan so that it” strives not to invest in businesses that consistently, knowingly and directly help or enable serious violations of international law and human rights,” according to NBC Bay Area.
Additionally, the school did cut ties with Caterpillar, a company that pro-Palestinian protesters claim manufactures arms for Israel.
In contrast, the school’s investment plan will then ban investments in companies that income from weapons manufacturing.
” The results of this plan will … strengthen the Foundation’s stated commitment to reflect the University’s values … while also increasing transparency around investments”, the San Francisco State University Foundation said in a statement, according to ABC 7 News.
” We have been lauded for being a leader in ESG ( environmental, social, and governance ) purchase before, and with breaks to Students for Gaza, our revised legislation affirms our leading part in values-driven advising”, the university stated.
In addition, individuals from all over the country have urged institutions to shut down all businesses that are connected to Israel.
As part of a plan to press the University of Michigan to withdraw from businesses connected to Israel, the University of Michigan’s Central Student Government just blocked funding for college organizations. This move came after pro-Palestinian individuals, under the” Shut It Down” system, gained control of CSG in the spring elections, as previously reported by The College Fix.
But, UM has since returned scholar groups ‘ funding for the fall semester.
Likewise, students at the University of Pennsylvania formed a vote in support of withdrawal. However, the president of the university made it clear over the summers that there are no plans to leave Israel.
MORE: Chicago students support ending” the anguish of Palestinians”
IMAGE: NBC Bay Area/Canva Pro
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