The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA), the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed passage of a ballot question that would have the city of Somerville, Massachusetts, divest from companies that engage in business that “that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine.”
The ballot non-binding question passed with 11,489 to 7,920.
In August, CAIR-MA similarly welcomed passage of a “Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance” by Medford, Massachusetts, barring investments in companies that profit from Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
In a statement, CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Esq., said:
“The people of Somerville have spoken clearly: their city’s investments should not support war crimes, apartheid, or genocide. We commend voters for standing on the side of justice, human rights, and accountability. Massachusetts communities are increasingly saying that our tax dollars must not fund oppression — whether in Palestine or anywhere else.”
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CONTACT: Barbara J. Dougan, Esq., CAIR-MA Legal Director, (781) 281-9992, bdougan@cair.com; Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Esq., CAIR-MA Executive Director, (617) 862-9159, tamatul-wadud@cair.com; 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