Why some BDS activists are buying stock in Boeing
While companies like Caterpillar and Hewlett-Packard have taken the center stage of the BDS movement, activism against Boeing has also been making its way to the front over the past year. Boeing has been targeted by anti-war activists for decades because of its production of drones and fighter jets. In the case of Palestine, Boeing recently signed a contract with Israel for an $83 million resupply of JDAMs. These “smart bomb kits” convert unguided bombs into guided weapons.
In Chicago, the Anti-War Committee has spearheaded the campaign at the country’s headquarters. They allege that, because 81% of the bombs dropped by Israel in the Gaza Strip used smart bomb technology during Operation Cast Lead, that “Boeing contributed directly to the deaths of over 80% of the Palestinian dead.” For the past three years, the Anti-War Committee has protested outside of Boeing’s annual shareholder meetings. In August of 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, the group helped organize a sit-in at Boeing’s headquarters where three Anti-War Committee members were arrested on grounds of trespassing. During Operation Protective Edge, the group also participated in the Palestine marches in Chicago. These marches were the largest demonstrations around the issue of Palestine that the US had ever seen. While many of the marchers targeted the Israeli Consulate, the Anti-War Committee also encouraged protesters to continue the marches to Boeing’s headquarters as well in order to hold them accountable for their weapons sales to Israel.
The Anti-War Committee Chicago doesn’t only pressure Boeing from outside their shareholder meetings, but from within as well. Kait McIntyre, Joe Iosbaker and Newland Smith are three leaders of the Anti-War Committee Chicago who have all bought shares in Boeing . In 2014, the group nominated Kait McIntyre to Boeing’s Board of Directors on an anti-war platform before she was disqualified due to a technicality.
This strategy of buying stock is called shareholder activism and is a form of activism using an inside-out approach. By buying single shares in a publicly held company, activists can become privy to shareholder meetings that are held annually in the United States by law. Electing a new board of directors, discussing annual reports and announcing future objectives are common topics of discussion at these meetings. Shareholders are usually given some time to voice their concerns and present resolutions as well.
On April 27th, 15 activists gathered outside Boeing’s annual shareholders meeting at the Field Museum in downtown Chicago. Prior to the meeting, the activists held a press conference where they spoke about Boeing’s weapon sales to Israel. Joe Iosbaker said, “I’m here in particular to talk to Boeing about their provision of weapons to Israel despite the mounting charges of genocide against the Israeli military. The Boeing company continues to sign contracts and renew contracts … We find that to be completely unacceptable morally and ethically, It’s contributing to an unjust war.” Also speaking were Kait McIntyre, Arnold Stieber from Veterans for Peace, Nerissa Allegretti of National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, Dale Lehman from Neighbors for Peace of Evanston, Illinois, and Sisters Barbara Jennings and Gwen Ferry of the Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment.
Source: mondoweiss.net