The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the Pasadena City Council’s 5–2 vote to amend a city investment policy to prohibit investments in companies that manufacture weapons and in private prisons.
SEE: Pasadena amends investment policy, steering funds away from fossil fuel, weapons, private prisons
Passed on Monday, May 11, the final amendment states, “The City Treasurer or any other authorized individual or company managing the investments of the City’s surplus funds shall not invest in companies that engage in the production of fossil fuel, weapons manufacturing, tobacco, or private prisons.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager Aliya Yousufi said:
“The Pasadena City Council’s recent vote to amend its investment policy is a testament to what is possible when our community shows up, speaks out, and refuses to be ignored. For years, Pasadena residents have made it clear that city money should not be used to fund the destruction of our planet, the machinery of war, or the imprisonment of human beings for profit—and yesterday, the city council listened.
“CAIR-LA commends the city council for having the courage to act and demonstrate what values-aligned governance looks like. We hope city councils across Southern California and beyond will follow Pasadena’s example and ask themselves the same question: Do our investments reflect our values? For the sake of all our communities, the answer must be yes.”
She added that broader conversations about the city’s ethical investments stemmed largely from public outcry over Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Over the past year, community members have given public comments urging the city council to include divestments from companies doing business with Israel in Pasadena’s ethical investment policy.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
– END –
CONTACT: CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com