How Somerville Became the First US City to Vote to Divest From Israeli Apartheid

"The nonbinding ballot initiative instructs the mayor and all other elected officials "to end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel's apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine." It marks the first time voters in the U.S. have had the opportunity to directly declare their support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement through a ballot initiative."

"When all the votes were counted, more than 11,000 of Somerville's 81,000 residents voted in favor of the measure - roughly 56 percent of the vote. All told, the question got the highest number of votes that night, besting the winning mayoral candidate by over 1,000 votes. It was a landslide. The room erupted. Volunteers hugged, cried, and began chanting: "Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes." Chairs were pulled aside and a celebratory dabke broke out, filling the room."

On November 4, Somerville, Massachusetts held a nonbinding ballot initiative asking whether the city should boycott and divest from companies complicit in Israeli apartheid and genocide in Gaza. The measure instructed the mayor and elected officials to end current city business and prohibit future investments and contracts with companies that sustain Israel's apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine. Voters approved the measure by roughly 56 percent, with more than 11,000 residents voting in favor. The question received the highest vote total that night, surpassing the winning mayoral candidate by over 1,000 votes. Celebration followed, including chanting and a dabke.

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