Baltimore City Council considers divestment from Sudan
Tomorrow - Thursday, November 8, 2007 10:30AM, I will be testifying before the Taxation and Finance Committee at Baltimore’s City Hall chaired by Councilwoman Helen Holton. Â
They are hearing bill 07-0591; an ordinance that would prohibit the investment of public pensions or retirement funds in Sudan or in companies doing business in Sudan. This type of legislation is designed to put pressure on the government of Sudan in Khartoum to become a good faith partner in brokering peaceful relations with the dissatisfied segments of Sudan’s population in the nation’s Darfur region which is still reeling from the vestiges of genocide and perpetual unrest. I’ll be testifying in support of this bill and invite you to email or call Councilwoman Helen Holton expressing your support as well. (Her number is 410.396.4818)
There’s no need in me re-hashing my long history of advocacy on this issue. I will say though that I experienced a bit of “advocacy fatigue” on this cause because it seemed like nothing that the grassroots/tops community was doing was making a difference. I took a break from this issue, but I’m preparing to step back into it now and I’m glad that my city is considering such a proposal. I’ll be there making the argument for this ordinance as strong as I can using the opportunity to educate those in the room who may not know what’s going on there as well. My testimony will be derived from these Africa Action talking points and my personal experiences.Â
Interestingly enough, while I’m in City Hall testifying in support of this legislation, Doc Cheatham, president of the local branch of the NAACP, will be outside the building with a coalition of others protesting the partial awarding of city contracts that far too often exclude minority businesses while showing preference to corporations controlled by the dominant culture.
Such is the paradoxical nature of politics.Â
November 8th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
UPDATE!!
Hey family - I just got back in from City Hall. (goodness gracious it’s cold out there) The hearing was sparsely attended, but it went well nonetheless. During my testimony I told Holton and the rest of the council that it’s been 1,155 days since the Bush Administration declared that genocide was going on in Darfur and that I was tired of the flowery words and proud pronouncements. I reminded them that Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu concluded about a year ago that the genocide was allowed to rage on unchallenged because the victims were African people and that if any other group of people were experiencing such grave danger (excluding the Palestinian people of course) that the international community would be moving post haste to stop it. I also told them that Sen. Verna Jones’ bill - SB543 (Darfur Protection Act) was a good start in the divestment movement and that I was in Annapolis pushing it, but now the State Pension Board is waffling on executing the mandates of the legislation. (I find it quite interesting that the State Pension Board was there for the press conference with Lt. Gov Anthony Brown and other notables, but now when it comes down to divesting from Sudan they’re having second thoughts.)
I encouraged the Taxation and Finance Committee (Chaired by Councilwoman Helen Holton) to give a favorable report to the legislation. After I spoke a Mr. Taneyhill from the Fire and Police Employees Retirement System stood to tesify announcing that his agency was not in support nor opposed to the legislation. After admitting that his agency has 6.9 billion in holdings in China Petroleum Chemical Company, - a company doing business with Sudan - he said that the bill “doesn’t do anything” and that while they agree with its intent; they couldn’t take a position on the bill as it stands.
So Holton tabled a vote on the bill until Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 10:15AM at City Hall (4th Floor).
If you are interested in expressing your support for this needed legislation please contact Councilwoman Helen Holton at (410) 396-4818. Also give State Treasurer, Nancy Kopp, a call expressing your concern that the State Pension Board is equivocating on what it is mandated to do under the Darfur Protection Act. (Senate Bill 543). Call Kopp at (800) 974-0468.
If you are able to come to City Hall next Thursday (Nov. 15th), I’m sure that the council would appreciate your presence and welcome your testimony on this issue.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Great job bruh. We need to rally in support of this legislation. There are other cities that have divested. Divestment was a major tool used to help bring down the Apartheid government of South Africa.
December 1st, 2007 at 1:11 am
[...] Baltimore City Council considers divestment from SudanThey are hearing bill 07-0591; an ordinance that would prohibit the investment of public pensions or retirement funds in Sudan or in companies doing business in Sudan. This type of legislation is designed to put pressure on the … [...]