Standing against HP
In 1979, the city of Cambridge stood on the right side of history by voting to divest from South Africa, supporting a movement that ultimately helped to end apartheid. At the time, this was controversial. Detractors tried to distract from South Africa’s violence and racism by cynically claiming that Cambridge unfairly “singled out South Africa.” I was reminded of these arguments while reading Jeff Robbins’ op-ed about a hopeful human rights campaign in Cambridge today.
Massachusetts Against HP, a coalition of 35 progressive groups, works to align public spending in Cambridge with the city’s proclaimed values of equality and nondiscrimination. They call on Cambridge to stop buying and leasing from Hewlett Packard Incorporated and Hewlett Packard Enter- prise until the companies end their complicity in the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land, the U.S. prison system and the deportation of U.S. immigrants.
The Cambridge City Council regularly speaks out about human rights violations locally and around the world — including in individual countries. Just three weeks ago, city councilors passed a resolution condemning the actions of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. The Council and city have taken action in response to human rights abuses in El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and, of course South Africa. In actuality, Massachusetts Against Hewlett Packard is asking the Council to hold the U.S. and Israeli governments to the same standard of respecting human rights to which the city has repeatedly held governments around the world, rather than dramatically lowering this standard in the U.S. and Israeli case.
Mass incarceration, deportation and Israeli occupation are urgent human rights concerns. To end systemic discrimination and violence, we must change policy but also seek corporate accountability for oppression. If our communities can band together to move money away from companies like HPE and HP Inc., we can pressure them to stop profiting from disgraceful policies.
Cambridge must remain on the right side of history by standing up to HPE and HP Inc. — Marc Gurvitch, Jewish
Voice for Peace Boston
The Cambridge City Council regularly speaks out about human rights violations locally and around the world.