Member Proposal Follow Up: GEO Divest from Genocide

April 5th, 2024

Demands from Membership Proposal: GEO Divest from Genocide: 

We call on GEO to commit to the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) against Israel, with Steering Committee establishing a member-included process for:

1. Investigating all GEO finances, and divesting from any Israeli stocks, bonds, assets or any investment connected with military, technological, or extractive industries supporting Israel;

2. Calling on AFT to divest from Israeli funds, bonds, and assets, and supportive military industries, and convey to the US government a demand to halt all aid and military support to Israel;

3. Developing a strategy to protect Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab students and workers from discrimination, surveillance, and political repression;

4. Reporting back to the membership on the progress towards goals 1-3 by April 1. 

Actions GEO has already taken: 

• The SC released a public statement calling for a ceasefire in October, with input from stewards, SJP leaders, and other Palestinian activists.

• Co-president and member participated in a labor press conference in support of Palestine, in January before the Chicago City Council vote to call for a ceasefire.

• Co-president publicly demanded that IFT, AFT, and AFT President Randi Weingarten to call for a ceasefire. These occurred publicly during multiple AFT and IFT events spanning from October to March.

• Staff and SC connected with the ArabAMCC in October and November and offered support, materials, and refreshments for events. We provided Arabic language union materials and refreshments for “Week of Reflection” events. We also publicized ArabAMCC events on social media.

• Treasurer investigated all GEO finances, which are held in the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago (ABOC). Confirmed with ABOC website and our bank liaison that (to the best of our knowledge) there are no ties to Israeli stocks, bonds, assets or any investment connected with military, technological, or extractive industries supporting Israel or other foreign governments and militaries. 

• Connected with SJP about messaging and support, and publicized SJP events via our social media. Shared campus pro-Palestine actions and events on social media.

• Hosted a free legal clinic and “Know Your Rights” training for international students in January. Hosted multiple general “Know Your Rights” trainings to communicate graduate workers academic freedom and right to protest. Hosted an international caucus event to build cross-department solidarity in November. 

Actions GEO intends to take: 

(This is an active work-in-progress, and will be updated periodically. Last updated 4/5/24.)

• Build stronger relationships with organizations on campus that are advocating for Palestinian liberation such as: 

  • ArabAMCC 

  • SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine)

  • FJP( Faculty for Justice in Palestine) 

  • JFP (Jewish Faculty for Justice in Palestine)

  • Radical Public Health

• Reach out and offer more general, high-level support to organizations that are advocating for Palestinian liberation

• Facilitating “Know Your Rights” events to inform graduate workers on their rights when advocating for Palestinian Liberation inside and outside of the classroom and what actions they can take if their rights are violated.This would be part of our strategy to protect Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab students and workers from discrimination, surveillance, and political repression

  • Specifically for TAs, what can be discussed in the classroom?

    • What are the limitations?

    • What can we do?

    • What are options that we can explore?

    • Responding to “whataboutism”

    • How to better support your Palestinian and MENA students

• Learning more about the potential benefits or harms of tracking MENA demographics across Illinois public schools. UIC MENA students and allies organized to have UIC track their demographics, but other Illinois public employees do not.

Contact for Followup

Feel free to reach out if you have questions, comments, or suggestions. Steering committee, organizing committee, stewards, and members have already contributed to the goal-setting and events, and you are always encouraged to get involved. 

president@uicgeo.org