The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined partner organizations at a press conference and rally outside the New Jersey Division of Investment to demand the state divest from its $30 million in Israel Bonds, purchased with taxpayer money and public worker pension funds.
CAIR-NJ said New Jersey’s continued investment in Israel Bonds directly enables the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which the United Nations recently determined Israel is committing.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Advocacy and Community Relations Associate Mousa Naji said:
“New Jersey’s continued investment in Israeli bonds is morally disgraceful. As Israel carries out a genocidal campaign against Palestinians, our state remains financially entangled in violence, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing. This is not a neutral position. It is complicity. Our community demands divestment, not tomorrow, not eventually, but now. Our conscience demands it. We cannot preach justice in Trenton while funding oppression in Gaza. It’s time for New Jersey to divest fully, immediately, and unapologetically.”
CAIR-New Jersey was joined byAmerican Muslims for Palestine- New Jersey, Ceasefire Now NJ and Jewish Voices for Peace among others at the Division of Investment to call attention to the state’s investments and to demand action from Governor Murphy’s administration.
“Leqaa, a young woman from Paterson NJ, is being confined by ICE in Texas for protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza that has taken nearly 200 of her family members. Think about that: a New Jerseyan, locked up on U.S. soil and separated thousands of miles away from her community, because she dared to speak out against the mass killing of her family. Immigration laws are being weaponized to silence dissent and enable state-sanctioned violence. Leqaas story shows how Israel’s repression doesn’t stop in Gaza, it reaches into our communities here in the U.S all the while New Jersey quietly funds this violence to the tune of $30 million in Israel bonds. We must divest,” Asma Elhuni with American Muslims for Palestine-New Jersey said.
“It is important for Mr. Khan and the SIC to meet with taxpayers and state retirees who are disturbed that their pension and surplus state funds are invested in Israel bonds that are unrestricted and permit Israel to use those funds to support its occupation, aggression and genocide against the Palestinian people. He must meet with us, hear our perspective and hopefully use his authority to not renew New Jersey’s investment in Israeli debt,” said Renee Steinhagen of Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the campaign organizers.
“At a time when the federal government is slashing funding for our most vulnerable neighbors, we should be investing in a better NJ–NOT destroying lives and land abroad. There is nothing between us and Gaza but an ocean and happenstance. Thousands of Palestinian NJ families have had their relatives killed or imprisoned. No matter the distance in miles, NJ is responsible. And at every moment, we have a choice: to continue to enable this, or to save lives by cutting off this funding, taking away the Israeli military’s capability to commit genocide and forcing, in the short term, a ceasefire and hostage exchange, and in the longer term a liberatory future. Every moment we waste costs lives. Break the siege. Break the bonds,” Maya Pontón Aronoff with Ceasefire Now NJ said.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com