The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today commended students at Georgetown University for voting to pass a referendum calling on the institution to divest from any companies connected to the Israeli military. Nearly 70 percent of students voted in favor of the referendum, while about 32.1% voted against it. Nearly 30 percent of the student body, 2,132 students, voted, according to the Election Commission’s announcement. To pass, GUSA referendums require at least 25% of students to vote, with the majority voting in favor.
SEE: GUSA Election Announcement
Divestment referendum passes; university announces it will not implement demands
In a statement CAIR said:
“We commend students at Georgetown University for their courageous vote in support of divesting any university assets from companies connected to the Israeli military.
“Despite extreme efforts to smear and silence college students critical of the Israeli government’s war crimes, students at Georgetown and other students across America are showing that those efforts have failed. The Israeli government and its supporters have lost the rising generation, which has been able to witness both the crimes committed against Palestinians with American taxpayer dollars and the un-American attempts to suppress college students.
“CAIR stands with these students, and we encourage Georgetown University to heed their call for divestment from any companies connected to the war criminals of the Israeli military.”
Last week, CAIR applauded students at University of Maryland College Park who passed a divestment referendum despite campus groups violating campus policy by bribing students to vote against it.
SEE: CAIR’s Maryland Office Applauds ‘Historic’ UMD College Park Vote in Support of Divestment Referendum
UMD SGA Commission Finds Students Were Bribed to Vote Unfavorably on Divestment Referendum
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com