The Green Party of Seattle has endorsed Initiative 97, which calls for the city of Seattle Employees’ Retirement Fund to restrict investment on companies profiting from war and occupation in Iraq and Palestine.
The initiative, which was developed by the Seattle Divest from War and Occupation campaign, aims to limit Seattleâs involvement with companies involved in war profiteering as well as supporting and perpetuating occupation.
If this initiative is voted for by Seattle voters, it would restrict the City of Seattle Employees’ Retirement Fund from investing in companies that directly participate in, or directly profit from, the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Investment would also be prohibited in corporations that provide material support for Occupation activities in the West Bank and Gaza. Furthermore, in the event that Israel were to unilaterally attack Iran, the city of Seattle would be forced to withdraw investments in Israeli government bonds.
For this to be included on the next ballot, supporters of the initiative must garner at 18,000 signatures from Seattle voters. The Green Party of Seattle has committed to collecting at least 1,000 of these.