ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 3-050

A RESOLUTION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN TO DIVEST FROM SOCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE COMPANIES THAT VIOLATE PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS WHEREAS,
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the role of the Presidents Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights is to Monitor code enforcement and promote University leadership in corporate citizenship with respect to fair labor practices, human rights, and sustainability in its licensing operations1;AND, as an example of this commitment, the Procurement Services of the Business and Finance Office at the University of Michigan is committed to Socially responsible procurement [which] is defined as conducting the University of Michigan's business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, commercial and public expectations that society has of business operation 2; AND, The University of Michigan continues to be hub for student activism surrounding social justice, including issues of militarism, womens rights, environmental justice, and underrepresented minorities; AND, the University of Michigans Board of Regents divestment from South African Apartheid in 1978 and from tobacco-related companies in 2000 sets a precedent for ethical divestment from socially irresponsible companies; 3AND, human rights are universal and apply to all people regardless of race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other status4; AND, Israel continues to occupy the West Bank and hold a military blockade in the Gaza Strip in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 242; AND, the Israeli occupations policies and systematic discrimination against Palestinians is well documented by academics, activists, and human rights groups; 5AND,

WHEREAS,
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WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,
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WHEREAS,
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WHEREAS,
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Charge to the Standing Committee Procurement Services 3 South Africa and Tobacco Divestments 4 Universal Declaration of Human Rights 5 Human Rights Watch Report Separate and Unequal https://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/12/19/separate-andunequal IlanPappesThe Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians http://www.amazon.com/Ethnic-Cleansing-Palestine-Ilan-Pappe/dp/1851685553

WHEREAS,
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the occupation infringes upon Palestinian human rights in such ways as, the building of settlements on Palestinian land6, the uneven distribution of land and water resources7, the unlawful demolition of Palestinian homes8, the administrative detention of Palestinians without charge9,the prohibition of Palestinian use of Israeli only roads10, and the siege and blockade of Gaza11; AND, the United Nations Human Rights Council 2013 report states that Palestinians rights to freedom of self-determination, non-discrimination, freedom of movement, equality, due process, fair trial, not to be arbitrarily detained, liberty and security of person, freedom of expression [...] are being violated consistently and on a daily basis by Israel12; AND, the June 30, 2013 University of Michigan Directly Held Equities report of investments lists investments in General Electric, Heidelberg Cement, Caterpillar and United Technology, which are explicitly tied to Israels illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and violations of international human rights law13; AND, General Electric Corporation (GE) supplies the propulsion system for Israel's AH-64 Apache Assault Helicopter, which has been used in Israeli attacks on Palestinian towns and refugee camps[and] possesses contracts with Israel to sell engines for a variety of military aircraft[and] possesses several Israeli service contracts for engineering support and testing14; AND, Heidelberg Cement is the owner of three plants in West Bank settlements and one Israeli aggregates quarry in the occupied West Bank through Hanson Israel in which the quarry exploits the occupied Palestinian natural resources for the Israeli construction industry15; AND,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,
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Human Rights Watch Report I Lost Everything http://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/05/13/i-lost-everything-0

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/un-panel-israeli-settlements-illegal_n_2589394.html http://cesr.org/downloads/The%20Right%20to%20Water%20in%20Palestine%20A%20Background.pdf http://icahd.org/node/242 http://www.btselem.org/administrative_detention https://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/12/19/separate-and-unequal

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/22/gaza-uninhabitable-blockade-united-nations http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session19/FFM/FFMSettlements.pdf 13 University of Michigan Directly Held Equities 14 Companies Supporting the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Land 15 Who Profits: Heidelberg Cement

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WHEREAS,

Caterpillar manufactures and provides bulldozers and civil engineering tools...used in demolitions of Palestinians' houses in the occupied territories, in the construction of the separation wall and settlements on Palestinian land, in military incursions and as weapons. The Israeli army has used unmanned D9 bulldozers (Dawn Thunder) in the Dec 2008 attacks in Gaza and in the murder of Evergreen College student Rachel Corrie16; AND, United Technologies produces Blackhawk helicopters which are used by the Israeli military to attack Palestinian cities, refugee camps and villages. Many civilians have been killed in these attacks17; AND, Palestinian civil society has called on the global community to implement boycotts, divestments, and sanctions in order to pressure Israel to comply with international law18; and has had its call endorsed by a diverse group of activists and leaders including South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, eminent academics and public intellectuals Noam Chomsky and Cornel West, Civil Rights Activist Angela Davis, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, among others; AND, the companies identified are involved in activities that deeply and personally affect Palestinian University of Michigan students with families and ties in Palestine; AND it is the opinion of the authors that ethical divestment fits with UMs deeply held principles of justice and equality for all people. the concern to be explored is expressed broadly and consistently by the campus community over time, and the action in question is antithetical to the core mission and values of the University19; THEREFORE BE IT that the Central Student Government calls upon the University of Michigan Regents to appoint an ad hoc committee to investigate the ethical and moral implications of our investments in the corporations Caterpillar, General Electric, Heidelberg Cement, United Technologies, and all other companies that explicitly profit from and facilitate the Israeli occupation and siege of Palestinian land in violation of international law and human rights, in order to persuade these companies to terminate all

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,
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WHEREAS,
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WHEREAS,

RESOLVED,

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Who Profits: Caterpillar Companies Supporting the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Land 18 Palestinian Civil Society Call for BDS 19 http://www.michigandaily.com/content/activist-manifesto-divest-israeli-apartheid

http://michigandaily.com/opinion/viewpoint-divest-israel http://michigandaily.com/opinion/12viewpoint-dorm-room-demolitions-ummockeviction10
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such business activity; AND BE IT FURTHER

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RESOLVED,
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that the Central Student Government urges the UM asset managers to divest, as soon as such divestment may be accomplished without injury to the UMs assets and investment strategies, from all such companies that, within one year from the date of engagement remain uncommitted to a diligent plan for terminating all such unethical business activities; AND BE IT FURTHER The University of Michigan maintain socially responsible investment practices that align with the University's mission and values, as well as the precedents set by previous divestments, as well as the ethical and moral standards its students demand; AND BE IT FURTHER the CSG establish a committee tasked with the annual review and evaluation of the Universitys investments portfolio for its integrity to the Universitys ethical and moral standards, and thereupon the submission of a report for consideration by the board of regents; AND BE IT FURTHER that a copy of this resolution be sent to the UM Board of Regents, in addition to the Presidents Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights, for their consideration; AND BE IT FURTHER that this resolution stand as an expression of solidarity with all people struggling for self-determination

RESOLVED,

RESOLVED,
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RESOLVED,
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RESOLVED,
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Authors
_______________________________ Bayan Founas _______________________________ Farah Erzouki _______________________________ Suha Najjar _______________________________ Yazan Kherallah _______________________________ Rae Scevers, Rackham

Attest
______________________________ Meagan Shokar Speaker of the Assembly _____________________________ Ramon Martinez Vice Speaker of the Assembly

Presidents Approval
____________________________ Michael Proppe

Presented to the Assembly for First Reads on ___________________________ Presented to the Assembly for Second Reads on _________________________ Yes: _____ No: _____ Abs:_____ Date: _______________________

Signature Necessary: ______

Signature Received By _________________: ______

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