'Act of cowardice:' Pro-Palestine Students Slam Brown University's Decision to Maintain Israeli Investments
ByBrown University has turned down protesters' demands to cut ties with companies connected to the Israeli military, drawing criticism from pro-Palestinian student groups.
The Ivy League institution voted on Wednesday against divesting from 10 companies described by the student-led Brown Divest Coalition as "facilitating the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territory."
"Brown's mission doesn't encompass resolving or adjudicating global conflict," the school's statement read.
The companies include Airbus, Boeing, General Dynamics, General Electric, Motorola Solutions, Northrop Grumman, RTX Corporation, Textron, Safariland and Volvo Group.
The governing body of Brown University, the Corporation, decided on Tuesday to support the Advisory Committee on University Resources Management's recommendation opposing divestment.
Brian T. Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America and chancellor of the Brown Corporation, and Brown University President Christina H. Paxson wrote in a Wednesday letter that after carefully considering ACURM's findings on a range of issues, "the Corporation is stating its clear position opposing divestment, and accordingly, the University will not divest."
The student coalition called the decision "an act of cowardice and an endorsement of genocide,"in an Instagram post on Thursday. "It was set up to fail from the beginning. This decision only deepens our resolve and commitment to fighting to see a free Palestine within our lifetimes."
In April, dozens of pro-Palestinian students disbanded an encampment on Brown's Providence, Rhode Island, campus, and in return, the university pledged to consider the demonstrators' demands.