Easthampton City Council votes to urge divestment from weapons and surveillance companies
The city approved a measure urging divestment from companies identified as complicit in human rights violations, after residents gathered hundreds of signatures and aired concerns before the council.
EASTHAMPTON — The City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging the city to divest from companies identified as complicit in human rights violations in Israel and Palestine, following nearly two hours of public comment and 45 minutes of deliberation on Oct. 21.
The vote came after months of organizing by residents and a group called Easthampton Divest, which gathered 535 signatures from residents and identified an estimated \$454,000 in city investments in companies flagged by the American Friends Service Committee. The identified holdings include $395,713 in GE Aerospace, $9,688 in RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon), and $13,887 in Palantir Technologies, according to city treasurer information.
At Large City Councilor Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid, a resolution sponsor, said the vote reflected the need to ensure municipal dollars do not support what the council views as violations of international law. Precinct 2 Councilor Felicia Jadczak, also a sponsor, stated the resolution aligns with a ceasefire resolution the council passed in 2024.
During public comment, 28 speakers supported the resolution and 12 opposed it. Supporters argued the measure was morally necessary, while opponents raised concerns about singling out Israel. Precinct 3 Councilor Thomas Peake, who chairs the Finance Committee, said the committee worked with the city attorney to adjust language and avoid legal problems that similar resolutions faced in other communities, including Northampton. The resolution was initially introduced in September and sent to the Finance Committee for review before the October vote. The council can only urge the city to make the divestments; it has no authority to direct the action.