Providence voters approve measure restricting city investments in certain foreign countries

The short version

• Providence, Rhode Island, voters approved a measure restricting city investments in foreign countries that the measure says profit from genocide or occupation.[The Guardian]
• The Guardian reports the measure passed with 75% of the vote, making Providence the second US city to divest from Israel.[The Guardian]
• Organizers say the city previously held at least $2.5m in companies profiting from Gaza, and it held over $2m in Israeli bonds as of 2022.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• Providence became the second American city to divest from Israel.[The Guardian]
• Voters approved a ballot measure requiring the city to refrain from investing in certain foreign countries, as the measure describes them.[The Guardian]
• The measure passed with 75% of the vote.[The Guardian]
• Organizers say at least $2.5m in city funds were invested in companies profiting from what they call a genocide in Gaza.[The Guardian]
• The city held more than $2m in Israeli bonds as recently as 2022.[The Guardian]
• The coalition collected more than 10,000 signatures, twice the threshold needed to qualify the measure.[The Guardian]
• Somerville, Massachusetts, was the first US city last year to vote to divest from Israel.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• How a small, newly socialist US city became the second to cut ties with IsraelThe Guardian - US