About us
Who we are:
We are a coalition of alumni who love Swarthmore and want one day to be able to say with pride that our Alma Mater was one of the first to divest from Apartheid Israel.
Our goals:
In the long-term, we hope that Swarthmore will shed its holdings in companies that support Israel's military occupation of Palestinian lands. We aim to gather 100 signatures a week until Swarthmore divests. In the nearer term, we hope to see a revival of the divestment movement at other colleges and universities across the country.
Why we are asking Swarthmore to divest from Apartheid Israel:
We are asking Swarthmore to divest from Apartheid Israel because investing in companies that support the occupation of Palestinian land violates the non-violent principles of the College's Quaker heritage. Swarthmore has a historic opportunity to cement its reputation as an institution that does not only discuss peace in the abstract, but also invests in peace on the ground. Learn more about divestment from Israel here.
Why we are asking people to join our "donation strike":
Swarthmore College has a responsibility to ensure the continued financial security of the College, and we support that commitment. By asking our supporters to withhold donations until Swarthmore sheds its Israeli holdings, and conversely to increase their generosity when Swarthmore has done so, we want to demonstrate that Swarthmore can afford to divest. In this happy case, the financially wise thing to do and the ethically right thing to do are one and the same.
What else you can do to support this cause:
If you've already signed our open letter to the college, we urge you to:
* ask your friends and faculty to sign the letter.
* encourage your friends at other institutions to start their own campaigns.
* carry out a personal boycott of Israeli goods. Read labels to find out where goods are manufactured, and learn more here.