Providence, Rhode Island approved a ballot measure requiring the city to refrain from investing in foreign countries engaged in genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and prolonged military occupation. The measure passed with 75% of the vote, making Providence the second American city to support divestment from Israel following Somerville, Massachusetts.
The Providence for Palestine campaign launched less than a year before the vote with approximately 40 volunteers, drawing support from Jewish Voice for Peace, the Democratic Socialists of America, the American Federation of Teachers, American Muslims for Palestine, and local housing justice organizations. The coalition gathered more than 10,000 signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot after previous legislative efforts failed. Organizers conducted extensive canvassing operations involving nearly 300 volunteers who knocked on 17,000 doors, made 18,000 phone calls, and engaged 30,000 residents about the initiative. According to organizers, the city held at least $2.5 million in investments in companies with Israeli ties and more than $2 million in Israeli bonds as of 2022.
Organizers credited the ballot measure’s success to both broad public support for divestment and the effectiveness of their canvassing strategy. Jackie Goldman, an incoming Providence city councilor and campaign organizer, noted that many voters were unaware of the city’s investments before learning about the initiative. The campaign also benefited from electoral victories by progressive, pro-Palestinian candidates in the city’s September primary, including mayor-elect David Morales, who is a Democratic Socialists of America member.
Proponents say the Providence effort demonstrates a replicable blueprint for other cities pursuing divestment. The coalition has posted materials online encouraging organizers nationally to replicate their tactics. Other cities have pursued divestment through different mechanisms, including Cambridge, Massachusetts through city council resolutions. In Florida, Palm Beach County officials voted not to reinvest $67.5 million in Israeli bonds that matured, following sustained organizing by local activists.
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