FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 30, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected] 

Protestors in Chicago to Rally Outside IL State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Fundraiser with a Unified Call to Divest From Genocide

Chicago, IL - A diverse coalition of Palestinian organizers and their allies, including CODEPINK, AlHub, Students for Justice in Palestine Chicago, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Palestinian Youth Movement, Palestine Activism Collective, and Anti-War Committee Chicago will rally outside of a fundraiser for Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs on September 30th at 6pm with a unified call for the state of Illinois to divest from genocide. 

• When: Monday, September 30th, 6:00PM
• Where: 112 W Hubbard St, Chicago, Illinois 60654

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has invested a total of $120 million in Israel Bonds since taking office in November of 2014. Currently, the treasurer has $85 million invested in the bonds — $30 million of which was invested after October 2023. In a press release issued by Frerichs’ office announcing the bonds, the treasurer explained, “After being absolutely sickened by the ongoing atrocities, we reached out to our Israeli friends and asked what we can do to help…This investment is a direct result of those conversations.”

Nour, a Palestinian organizer with CODEPINK, explains why she will be rallying, “With hundreds of thousands of people murdered by Israel in the past year, every politician and decision-maker invested in Israel’s genocidal regime should expect to hear our demands everywhere they go, any day of the week. We have reached a breaking point, and the people of Chicago can no longer do nothing while our governments force us to participate in genocide with our tax dollars. We demand full divestment from the genocidal state of Israel and an arms embargo now!” 

In a piece published in The Guardian, Prof. Devi Sridhar estimates the death toll in Gaza has already reached 335,500 due to Israel’s almost year-long genocidal campaign. In recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon, over 1,000 Lebanese people have been murdered by Israel, and 1 million more have been displaced. The International Court of Justice asserts that Israel’s actions in Gaza are “genocidal in nature”, and the UN Commission found Israel guilty of crimes against humanity. The protestors assert that this is not only a completely irresponsible way to manage state funds, but it is morally bankrupt to fund a genocidal state. 

For more information, please contact Nour at [email protected].

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