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AResolutiontoDivestfromCompaniesEngagedinViolenceAgainstPalestinians
Sponsoredby:NegeenSadeghiMovahed,ConradContreras,ManjotSingh

Studentgroupcosponsors:StudentsforJusticeinPalestine,AmericanIndianStudentsAssociation,
BengaliStudentsAssociation,BruinFeministsforEquality,IDEAS(ImprovingDreams,Equality,
Access,andSuccess),IncarceratedYouthTutorialProject,JewishVoiceforPeace,MuslimStudents
Association,QueerAlliance,SamahangPilipino,StudentCoalitionAgainstLaborExploitation,
UMMAVolunteerProject,UnitedArabSociety

WHEREAS,inSeptember2014,theUniversityofCaliforniasignedontotheUnitedNationssupported
PrinciplesforResponsibleInvestment1,whichincludeguidelinesstatingthatbusinessesshould
supportandrespecttheprotectionofinternationallyproclaimedhumanrightsandmakesurethatthey
arenotcomplicitinhumanrightsabuses2

WHEREAS,theUniversityofCaliforniaremainsinvestedincompaniesthatdonotmeetthestandards
endorsedbytheUnitedNationssupportedPrinciplesforResponsibleInvestment

WHEREAS,investmentincompaniesengagedinviolenceagainstothersisharmfultostudentsat
UCLAwhoareaffectedbysuchviolence

WHEREAS,UCstudentsdidnotgiveconsenttoinvestincompaniesengagedinviolenceagainst
others

WHEREAS,UCstudentshaveusedandcontinuetousedivestment3campaignstoreclaimpolitical
agencyandtochangeUCpoliciesthatmaintaininvestmentsincompaniesthatdemonstratealackof
accountability,ethicality,andrespectfortherightsanddignityofothers,mostnotablyinthecontextof
SouthAfrica4andmostrecentlyinthecontextoffossilfuels5andthePrisonIndustrialComplex6

WHEREAS,thefollowingillustrativeandnonexhaustivelistofcompaniesinwhichtheUniversityof
Californiainvests7profitfromandenablehumanrightsabusesandviolence

WHEREAS,Boeing,Caterpillar,CementRoadstoneHoldings,Cemex,GeneralDynamics,General
Electric,HewlettPackard,LockheedMartin,NorthropGrumman,Raytheon,andUnitedTechnologies
haveviolatedtheuniversalrighttolife,liberty,andsecurityofpersontoeducationtoprivacy,
family[and]hometoownproperty,and...[notto]bearbitrarilydeprivedofproperty8

WHEREAS,Caterpillarhasviolatedtheserightsbycontinuallyprovidingengineeringtoolsand
bulldozersroutinelyusedinthedemolitionofPalestinianhomes,refugeecamps,watercisterns,and
agriculturalfieldsintheWestBankandGaza910,andbyprovidingbulldozersusedtoexpandillegal
settlementsandtoconstructtheSeparationWallandcheckpointsthroughouttheWestBank10,which
havebeenruledtobeinviolationofinternationallawintheInternationalCourtofJustices2004
AdvisoryOpinion11

WHEREAS,byprovidingcementandotherbuildingmaterials,CementRoadstoneHoldings(CRH)
hascontributedtotheconstructionofmilitarycheckpoints,theSeparationWall,andillegalsettlements
withintheoccupiedPalestinianterritory12

WHEREAS,CemexalsoownsandoperatesmanufacturingplantsinillegalWestBanksettlements,
exploitingPalestiniannaturalresourcesinviolationofinternationallaw13

WHEREAS,CRHandCemexhavesuppliedbuildingmaterialsusedtobuildillegalsettlements,the
SeparationWall,andcheckpointswithintheoccupiedPalestinianterritory14

WHEREAS,HewlettPackardCompany(HP)hasprovidedbiometricidentificationsystemsusedat
Israelimilitarycheckpoints,whichrestrictthefreedomofmovementofPalestinians,facilitate
discriminationagainstPalestinians,andreinforceastratificationofcitizenship15

WHEREAS,HPprofitsfromglobalmassincarcerationandprovidesprisonerdatasystemsforthe
UnitedStatesDepartmentofHomelandSecuritysImmigrationandCustoms(ICE)LawEnforcement
SupportCenter16

WHEREAS,corporationsthattheUniversityofCaliforniainvestsin,includingBoeing17,General
Dynamics18,GeneralElectric19,LockheedMartin20,NorthropGrumman21,Raytheon22,andUnited
Technologies23,haveprovidedweaponsusedinattacksonciviliansandcivilianinfrastructureinthe
GazaStrip24

WHEREAS,havingdocumentedseriousviolationsofhumanrightsandpossiblewarcrimes25,both
AmnestyInternational26andHumanRightsWatch27calledupontheUnitedStatesgovernmentand
otherpartiestoceasethetransferorsaleofarmsthatwouldlikelybeusedinthefurthercommissionof
humanrightsviolations,specificallyreferencingcorporationsinwhichtheUniversityofCalifornia
currentlyinvests24

WHEREAS,investmentinthesecompaniesshowsimplicitsupportforthedecisionsandactionsof
thesecompanies,aswellastheirconsequences,whichincludethekillingsofcivilians

WHEREAS,theconsequencesofthesecompaniesactionsalsoaffecttheUCLAcommunitydirectly,
includingstudentswhosefamiliesexperienceoccupation,systematicdiscrimination,death,injury,and
otherformsofhumanrightsviolations

WHEREAS,theonlywaytoachievefinancialneutralityinsuchsituationsistoendourinvestmentin
andimplicitsupportforsuchcompaniesthroughdivestment

WHEREAS,thisresolutionaimsneithertocondemnacountry,apeople,oracommunitynorto
determineapoliticalsolution,butissolelyaimedatendingourUniversityssupportofcompaniesthat
enablehumanrightsviolations

WHEREAS,supportforhumanrightsandoppositiontoinvestmentsincompaniesengagedinviolence
areprinciplesthathavethepowertounitemembersoftheUCLAcommunity

LETITBERESOLVED,thattheUndergraduateStudentsAssociationCounciloftheUniversityof
California,LosAngelescallsupontheUniversityofCaliforniatowithdrawinvestmentsinsecurities,
endowments,mutualfunds,andothermonetaryinstrumentswithholdingsintheaforementioned
companies,atsuchtimeandinsuchmannerasfundtrusteesmaydetermineandthattheUniversityof
Californiamaintainthewithdrawalofinvestments,inaccordancewithtrusteesfiduciaryduty,until

thesecompaniesarenolongerengagedintheviolationofhumanrightsandotherbehaviorthatfailto
adheretotheUniversityofCaliforniaendorsedPrinciplesofResponsibleInvestment

LETITFURTHERBERESOLVED,thatifitisfoundthatUCLAfundsarebeinginvestedinanyof
theabovementionedcompanies,theUndergraduateStudentsAssociationCounciloftheUniversityof
California,LosAngelescallsuponUCLAtodivestallstocksandsecuritiesofsuchcompanies,atsuch
timeandinsuchmannerasfundtrusteesmaydetermine,andmaintaindivestmentfromsaid
companies,inaccordancewiththefundtrusteesfiduciaryduty,untiltheymeettheUniversityof
CaliforniaendorsedPrinciplesofResponsibleInvestment

LETITFURTHERBERESOLVED,thattheUndergraduateStudentsAssociationCouncilofthe
UniversityofCalifornia,LosAngelescallsuponUCLAandtheUCLAFoundation,inaccordancewith
fundtrusteesfiduciaryduties,torefrainfrommakingfurtherinvestments,andtoadvocatethatthe
UniversityofCalifornianotmakefurtherinvestments,inanycompaniesengagedintheviolationof
humanrightsorotherbehaviorthatfailstoadheretotheUniversityofCaliforniaendorsedPrinciples
ofResponsibleInvestment

LETITFURTHERBERESOLVED,thattheUndergraduateStudentsAssociationCouncilofthe
UniversityofCalifornia,LosAngelescallsupontheUniversityofCaliforniatoestablishameansof
implementinggreaterstudentoversightoftheUniversitysinvestments

LETITFURTHERBERESOLVED,thatinadditiontodivestment,theUndergraduateStudents
AssociationCounciloftheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngelescallsupontheUniversityof
CaliforniatoinvestinandsupportventuresinIsraelandPalestinethatpromotehumanrightsand
justice,andthatdonotcontributetotheoppressionofanygroup

LETITFINALLYBERESOLVED,thatwe,thestudents,calluponouruniversitytodissociateitself
fromcompaniesthatengageoraidinsystematicprejudicedoppression,whetherthissystemtargets
peoplebasedontheirreligion,nationality,gender,raceororientation,bydivestingfromcompaniesthat
participateinorprofitfromhumanrightsviolations.

[1]

UCjoinsUNsupportedPrinciplesforResponsibleInvestment
[2]
PrinciplesforResponsibleInvestmentAnnualReport2014PrinciplesforResponsibleInvestment:Whatis
ResponsibleInvestment?,andTheUNGlobalCompactsTenPrinciples
[3]
Divestingistheprocessofsellinganasset,doneforeitherfinancialorsocialgoals.
[4]
UCLAAfricanStudiesCenterRememberingNelsonMandela,areflectionondivestmentandTheStudent
AntiApartheidNewsletter:SpecialReportonUniversityofCaliforniaDivestmentAction
[5]
AResolutionInSupportofDivestmentfromFossilFuelCompanies
[6]
AResolutiontoDivestUndergraduateStudentsAssociationCouncilandUCLosAngelesFinancesfrom
CorporationsProfitingfromthePrisonIndustrialComplex
[7]
UCRetirementPortfolioholdingsincludeinvestmentsinCaterpillar,CementRoadstoneHoldings,Cemex,General
Electric,HewlettPackard,andLockheedMartin.UCGeneralEndowmentPortfolioholdingsincludeinvestmentsin
CementRoadstoneHoldings,Cemex,GeneralElectric,HewlettPackard,andLockheedMartin.Bothportfoliosinclude
investmentsintheRussell3000Index,whichincludesBoeing,Caterpillar,GeneralDynamics,GeneralElectric,
HewlettPackard,LockheedMartin,NorthropGrumman,Raytheon,andUnitedTechnologies.
[8]
TheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights
[9]
HumanRightsWatchsRazingRafah:MassHomeDemolitionsintheGazaStrip,citesCaterpillarsviolations
[10]
AmnestyInternationalreportIsraelandtheOccupiedTerritories:UndertheRubble:HouseDemolitionand
DestructionofLandandProperty,citinghowCaterpillarbulldozersareusedtoviolatehumanrights.
[11]
InternationalCourtofJustice:LegalConsequencesoftheConstructionofaWallintheOccupiedPalestinian
Territory(9July2004)
[12]
SeeProjectCleanHandsreportonCementRoadstoneHoldings,WhoProfitsreportonCementRoadstone
Holdings
[13]
WhoProfitsreportonCemex
[14]
See13,andNewEnglandUnitedMethodistChurchreportsonsaidcompaniesanddocumentationonsaid
companies
[15]
WhoProfitsreportonHPsinvolvementinsettlementsandoccupationinfrastructure
[16]
GlobalExchangesreportonHPincludesinformationonservicestodomesticprisonandimmigrationsystems
[17]
SeeBoeingsreportonitsweaponssalesandspecifically,itssalesofAH64Apachehelicopters,F15EStrike
Eaglefighterjets,F16missiles,andAGM114Hellfiremissiles.
[18]
SeetheAFSCsreportonarmssalestoIsrael,citingGeneralDynamicssaleofweaponsusedinattacksoncivilians.
[19]
GeneralElectricssaleofenginesforBoeingsAH64Apachehelicopters,andenginesforBlackhawkhelicopters.
[20]
LockheedMartinsuppliesIsraelwithF16fighterjetsandmissiles,LongbowHellfiremissiles(withNorthrop
Grumman)andAH64ApacheLongbowhelicopterparts.
[21]
SeeNorthropGrummanssalesofmissilesystems,gunships,andservicesforF16fighterjets.
[22]
SeedocumentationofRaytheonsarmstransfers,includingmissilesandbombsusedinhumanrightsviolations.
[23]
UnitedTechnologiesrendersservicestotheIsraelimilitarythroughitsaviationsubsidiaries,PrattandWhitneyand
Sikorsky,whichmanufactureenginesusedinF15sandF16s,andBlackhawkhelicopters,respectively.
[24]
AmnestyInternationalsreportFuellingConflict:ForeignArmsSuppliestoIsrael/Gaza,detailsarmssalesmade
byBoeing,GeneralElectric,LockheedMartin,andRaytheon.
[25]
See:AmnestyInternationalsOperationCastLead:22DaysofDeathandDestruction,andHumanRights
WatchsIsrael:InDepthLookatGazaSchoolAttacks,andGaza:AirstrikesViolatedLawsofWar
[26]
AmnestyInternationallettertoCongresscallingforarmsembargoAmnestyInternational:UNmustimposearms
embargoandmandateaninternationalinvestigationasciviliandeathtollrisesAmnestyInternational:TheUnited
StatesisNotJustaBystanderinIsraelGazaViolenceAmnestyInternational:StopUSshipmentoffueltoIsrael's
armedforcesasevidenceofGazawarcrimesmounts
[27]
HumanRightsWatch:UnlawfulIsraeliAirstrikesKillCivilians,andIsraeliSoldiersShootandKillFleeing
Civilians