CalPERS and CalSTRS Petition Call
The Rachel Corrie Foundation salutes the efforts of the California Israel Divest Campaign. Our beloved daughter, friend, and community member, Rachel Corrie was killed by a Caterpillar D-9 bulldozer while defending a Palestinian family’s home from demolition. Caterpillar is one of the many corporations that profit from the occupation. For years, it has provided Israel with bulldozers for armoring, in the full knowledge that they would be used to commit human rights violations--the intentional destruction of civilian homes, orchards, livelihoods, and sometimes lives. Before her death, Rachel wrote, “This has to stop. I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop.”
California state retirement funds CalPERS and CalSTRS are two of the largest pension funds in the United States. Both retirement funds have policies for socially responsible investing that govern their selection of stocks and bonds. Yet together, they have more than $3 billion invested in 15 U.S. companies that supply the State of Israel with the equipment and supplies it uses in its systematic violation of Palestinian human rights and international law.1
Among the unlawful acts enabled by these companies is the destruction of Palestinian homes, the building of the "Separation Wall" and illegal settlements, and the invasion, bombing and continued blockade of Gaza.
Is this socially responsible investing? The Israel Divestment Campaign does not believe that either fund is following its own responsible investment policies.2
CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS - do you want your tax dollars to be used by Israel in its violation of human rights and international law?3
CalPERS and CalSTRS members – do you want your retirement funds to be invested in companies that profit from Israeli violation of human rights and international law?
If you want the two largest public pension funds in the U.S. to implement their own policies related to socially responsible investing, you need to take action.
Sign the petition to the CalPERS and CalSTRS boards demanding that they the start the process of disengagement from companies such as:
- Alliant - produces depleted uranium (DU) weaponry used by the Israeli military in Operation Cast Lead in Gaza
- Caterpillar - manufactures heavy equipment used:
- in the construction of illegal settlements and the "Separation Wall"
- to destroy Palestinian homes and orchards
- to kill U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie
- Elbit - furnishes unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)
Footnotes
- Click to see 15 of the offending companies we have identified in the Domestic Equity and Options Investments of both PERS and STRS.
- Click to see the CalPERS investment policy or the CalSTRS investment policy.
- Click to see California contributions to state retirement funds.