Providence Voters Approve Divestment From Countries Accused of Genocide
Providence voters passed a ballot measure to divest public funds from countries and companies linked to genocide and apartheid, targeting investments in Israel.
Voters in Providence, Rhode Island, approved Question 7 on Tuesday, making it the largest U.S. municipality to vote for divestment from foreign countries and companies accused of genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, or illegal military occupation. The Rhode Island Board of Elections reported that approximately 75 percent of voters supported the measure.
The initiative was driven by the Providence for Palestine Coalition, which collected over 10,000 signatures to bypass the city council and place the ordinance on the ballot. While the text does not explicitly name Israel, organizers and supporters, including the local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, identified the move as a targeted effort to divest from Israel and its bonds.
Political divisions emerged within the city's leadership. Newly elected Mayor David Morales, a democratic socialist, supported the measure and promised to enforce it, while outgoing Mayor Brett Smiley campaigned against it. The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island has indicated it will explore legal challenges to the result.
Separately, President Donald Trump announced on Election Day that the United States would terminate nearly $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year, characterizing the funding as a political liability.
