Hey,
The press conference for the new website is go! We will be at the state capitol on Wednesday with at least two, and maybe three, legislators, promoting Sudanese divestment legislation. Please, anyone who wants to attend is welcome. Any questions, talk to Tom.
Also, here is the press release:
Press Release
April 7th, 2008
Contact: Tom Choske
SPDmsu@gmail.com
Darfur Genocide Legislation to be Discussed by Legislators, Community at Capitol Press Conference this Wednesday
Students, Legislators, and Community Groups come together Wednesday, April 9th at 12:30pm in Room 428 of the Capitol building to advocate passage of progressive Sudan Divestment action.
East Lansing- MSU-student group Spartans For Progressive Divestment and Progress Michigan will host a press conference in room 428 of the Capitol building in Lansing at 12:30pm on April 9th, 2008 to press the State Senate to pass legislation to divest Michigan public pension funds from companies supporting the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Students, community activists, and legislators will lend their voices to the growing call for action on this crisis.
House Bill 4854 and its Senate complement, SB 555, would require Michigan’s state fiduciaries in charge of the public pension funds for state employees, legislators, teachers, and police to analyze their investments for any link to companies on the Sudan Divestment Task Force ‘scrutinized companies’ list. It is believed that $150 million of the funds’ $64 billion taxpayer dollars are invested in these companies. The fiduciary would then engage these non-American companies to force them to provide aid to the victims of the Darfur genocide. Should the company refuse, the state would withdraw its funds and invest in other companies. Similar processes are already in place in 24 other states, and the Michigan version has already passed the House of Representatives by a margin of 108-2. The legislation is currently languishing in the Senate Appropriations committee.
Representative Alma Wheeler Smith (D- Salem Township) will join Tom Choske of Spartans For Progressive Divestment and Ginny Mitchell of Michigan Darfur Coalition in leading the call for the Senate Appropriations committee to vote on this legislation. Also expected to attend are Representative Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), and Representative Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale), showing their support for responsible financial management and human rights.
For more info, go to www.fightthegenocide.org or contact Tom at SPDmsu@gmail.com.
Leave a Comment