To: Yale College Council

From: Yalies4Palestine (Y4P)

Date: 28 February 2023

Endorsed by:

A resolution calling on Yale University to cut ties with G4S and end its complicity with the
injustices G4S commits throughout the world.

Whereas, the State of Israel has engaged in settler colonialism1 and ethnic cleansing2 against the
people of Palestine since the Nakba3 in 1948.

Whereas, Israel has used military courts4 to imprison Palestinians and deny them their right to
resist5 since the occupation of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem in 1967.6

Whereas, Israel has used military checkpoints7 to secure its illegal settlements8 in the West Bank
and East Jerusalem, denying Palestinians their right to freedom of movement9 since the end of
the First Palestinian Intifada in 1993.

Whereas, Israel has used a wall10 inside of the borders of the West Bank in order to maintain a
system of apartheid,11 as recognized by human rights organizations, since 2005.

1
Francesca Albanese. “Dismantling Israel’s illegal occupation is a sine qua non for Palestinian right to self-determination.” United Nations Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2022.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/10/dismantling-israels-illegal-occupation-sine-qua-non-palestinian-right-self
2
Ilan Pappe. “The 1948 Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.” Journal of Palestine Studies, 2006. https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/41791
3
Adel Manna. “The Palestinian Nakba and its Continuous Repercussions.” Israel Studies, 2013. https://doi.org/10.2979/israelstudies.18.2.86
4
“Ongoing Violations of the Rights of Palestinian Prisoners.” Al-Haq, 2007. https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/7311.html
5
“Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts.”
United Nations, 1977. https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/unts/volume%201125/volume-1125-i-17512-english.pdf
6
“On Naksa Day, Al-Haq Recalls Ongoing and Systematic Violation of International Law, calls for Recognition of the State of Palestine.”
Al-Haq, 2020. https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/16942.html
7
“List of military checkpoints in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” Btselem, 2021.
https://www.btselem.org/freedom_of_movement/checkpoints_and_forbidden_roads
8
“Israeli Settlements: IMEU Policy Backgrounder.” Institute for Middle East Understanding, 2022.
https://imeu.org/article/israeli-settlements-imeu-policy-backgrounder
9
“Freedom of Movement: Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.” United Nations Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2016. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Countries/PS/SG_Report_FoM_Feb2016.pdf
10
“Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” International Court of Justice, 2004.
https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/131
11
“Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity.” Amnesty International, 2022.
https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Full-Report.pdf
Whereas, Israel has imposed a blockade12 on the Gaza Strip, restricting Palestinians from
accessing basic necessities,13 following the Palestinian legislative elections of 2006.

Whereas, the United Nations General Assembly, 14 the United Nations Security Council,15 and
the International Court of Justice16 have recognized Israel’s de facto annexation of the Gaza
Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as a military occupation.

Whereas, G4S Limited has provided Israel17 with the security equipment for its prisons, military
checkpoints, police buildings, illegal settlements, and apartheid wall.

Whereas, G4S is a British multinational company and the largest private security company in
the world.18

Whereas, G4S has been condemned for its poor human rights record.19

Whereas, G4S has previously helped manage the Israeli prison service20 and is still involved in
training the Israeli police forces and has a 25% stake in the Israeli National Police Academy. 21

Whereas, the Israeli police enforces military law against Palestinians22 and employs excessive
violence, detainment, and torture against Palestinians.23

Whereas, in addition to its assistance to Israel, G4S has been involved in the reproduction of
violence and repression elsewhere in the world, including operating private prisons in the United

12
“Real Stories, Real Lives: What the Gaza Blockade Means.” United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,
2016. https://www.unrwa.org/what_the_Gaza_blockade_means
13
“Timeline: The Humanitarian Impact of the Gaza Blockade.” Oxfam International, 2018.
https://www.oxfam.org/en/timeline-humanitarian-impact-gaza-blockade
14
“Resolution 77/247: Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied
territories.” United Nations General Assembly, 2022.
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N23/004/68/PDF/N2300468.pdf?OpenElement
15
“Resolution 2334.” United Nations Security Counil, 2016.
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N16/463/89/PDF/N1646389.pdf?OpenElement
16
“Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” International Court of Justice, 2004.
https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/case-related/131/131-20040709-ADV-01-00-EN.pdf
17
“Stop G4S.” BDS National Committee, 2012. https://bdsmovement.net/stop-g4s
18
“G4S PLC.” American Friends Service Committee, 2021. https://investigate.afsc.org/company/g4s
19
Gina Barton, Brett Murphy, and Nick Penzenstadler. “The Pulse nightclub shooting and other G4S scandals.” USA Today, 2019.
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2019/10/30/security-contractor-g-4-s-plagued-years-international-scandal/4060171002/
20
“G1 Secure Solutions (formerly G4S Israel).” Who Profits from Occupation, 2022. https://www.whoprofits.org/company/g4s-israel-hashmira/
21
Michal Margalit. “Shari Arison's Shikun u'Binui, G4S win NIS 1.8B police deal.” Globes, 2011. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000615250
22
“G4S PLC,” Investigate, AFSC https://investigate.afsc.org/company/g4s
23
“Israeli police used ‘ruthless excessive force’ against Palestinian protesters - new research.” Amnesty International UK, 2021.
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/campaigns-blog/israeli-police-used-ruthless-excessive-force-against-palestinian-protesters
Kingdom,24 South Africa, 25 and the United States,26 as well as assisting United States Customs
and Border Patrol and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in imprisoning and
deporting refugees at the United States-Mexico Border.27

Whereas, in addition to the aforementioned entities, Yale University is a client of G4S.28

Whereas, Yale and its police force have used G4S-owned AMAG Technology’s Symmetry SR
Retrofit System to operate its security system since 2014.29

Whereas, Yale’s connections to apartheid, military occupation, and the prison-industrial

complex are problematic and in contradiction with its stated goal of meeting “moral and social
imperatives” for “racial justice and equity.”30

Whereas, Yale’s failure to condemn the Israeli occupation is inconsistent with President Peter
Salovey’s statements of condemnation against Russia’s war of aggression31 and Iran’s repression
of protesters32 in 2022.

Whereas, likewise, Yale failed to dissociate itself from South African apartheid in the 1980s. 33

Whereas, the students of Yale College made their contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle by
demanding that Yale Corporation divest from companies operating in apartheid South Africa in
1986.34

24
Ruth Hopkins. “The shocking reality of G4S' management of prisons.” We Own It, 2021.
https://weownit.org.uk/blog/shocking-reality-g4s-management-prisons
25
Shani Reddy. “British multinational company exposed for its inhumane treatment of SA prisoners and correctional officers.” Daily Maverick,
2020.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-04-british-multinational-company-exposed-for-its-inhumane-treatment-of-sa-prisoners-and-corr
ectional-officers/
26
“G4S sells G4S Youth Services LLC.” G4S News and Insights, 2017.
https://www.g4s.com/investors/regulatory-announcements/2017/04/03/g4s-sells-g4s-youth-services-llc
27
Tod Miller. “More Than a Wall: Corporate Profiteering and the Militarization of US borders.” Transnational Institute, 2019.
https://www.tni.org/en/publication/more-than-a-wall-0
28
“Yale University upgrades security with AMAG tech.” G4S News and Insights, 2017.
https://www.g4s.com/news-and-insights/insights/2017/11/23/yale-university-upgrades-security-with-amag-tech
29
Holly Gilbert Stowell. “Yale Opens Doors.” ASIS International, 2016.
https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2016/12/yale-opens-doors/
30
Gary Desir and Kimberly Goff-Crews. “Recommendations of the President’s Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.” Belonging at
Yale, 2020. https://belong.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Recommendations_Final.pdf found in
https://president.yale.edu/president/statements/building-stronger-and-more-inclusive-yale
31
Peter Salovey. “Yale’s response to the invasion of Ukraine.” Yale University Office of the President, 2022.
https://president.yale.edu/president/statements/yales-response-invasion-ukraine
32
“Message on Iran.” Belonging at Yale, 2022. https://belong.yale.edu/news/message-iran
33
Aden Tedla. “Yale students campaign for divestment from apartheid South Africa, 1985-1987.” Global Nonviolent Direct Action Database,
2010. https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/yale-students-campaign-divestment-apartheid-south-africa-1985-1987
34
Anastasiia Posnova. “Panel recounts anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s.” Yale Daily News, 2017.
https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/02/14/panel-recounts-anti-apartheid-movement-in-the-1980s/
Whereas, King’s College London and the University of Southampton cut ties with G4S in
2013.35

Whereas, Columbia University cut ties with G4S in 2015.36

Whereas, Cornell University cut ties with G4S in 2016.37

Whereas, Yale University cutting ties with G4S would be one step towards the end of the
military occupation of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem; the destruction of the
apartheid wall; the actualization of equal rights for the Palestinian citizens of Israel; and the
recognition of the Palestinian right of return, as stipulated in United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 194.38

Be it resolved by the Yale College Council, acting in full session,

I. That the students of Yale College demand that the university cancel its contract with G4S
due to its clear and active role in upholding Israeli occupation and human rights abuses
around the world.
II. That this Resolution be sent in its entirety to the following individuals:
A. The Board of Trustees
1. Peter Salovey, President of Yale University
2. Joshua Bekenstein, Senior Trustee
3. Michael J. Cavanagh, Trustee
4. Charles W. Goodyear IV, Trustee
5. Catharine Bond Hill, Trustee
6. William E. Kennard, Trustee
7. Fred Krupp, Trustee
8. Maurie McInnis, Trustee
9. Ann Miura-Ko, Trustee
10. Carlos R. Moreno, Trustee

35
Michael Deas. “Boycott campaigns cost G4S two university contracts.” Electronic Intifada, 2013.
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/michael-deas/boycott-campaigns-cost-g4s-two-university-contracts
36
Nadia Prupis. “Following Student-Led Campaign, Columbia to Divest from Prisons.” Common Dreams, 2015.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/06/23/following-student-led-campaign-columbia-divest-prisons
37
Stephanie Yan. “Johnson Museum Terminates Contract With Company With Alleged Ties to Prison Industry.” Cornell Daily Sun, 2016.
https://cornellsun.com/2016/03/22/johnson-museum-severs-ties-with-security-company-with-alleged-ties-to-prison-industry/
38
“Resolution 194.” United Nations General Assembly, 1948. https://www.palquest.org/en/historictext/6728/unga-resolution-194-iii
 11. E. John Rice, Jr., Trustee
12. Joshua Steiner, Trustee
13. David Sze, Trustee
14. Marta L. Tellado, Trustee
15. David A. Thomas, Trustee
16. Kate Walsh, Trustee
17. Michael Warren, Trustee
B. Scott Strobel, Provost
C. Ronnell Higgins, Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Community
Engagement
D. Anthony Campbell, Chief of Police
E. David Boyd, Director of Strategic Planning & Management for Public Safety
F. Steve Donnelly, Manager of Access Control & ID Centers
G. Bill Goldbach, Assistant Director, Public Safety Systems and Services