Reaching the point where you will have decided on a target for your divestment campaign, built coalitions with other groups, educated the public about the Palestinian-Israeli situation, and empowered activists to join your divestment efforts will be a huge accomplishment. You will have learned so much from the process, and you will have much to share with other groups and grassroots activists in other communities across the country and around the world.
This final step of connecting and sharing your experience will be instrumental in sustaining your efforts and expanding the divestment movement. By following the steps outlined below, you can make sure that divestment initiatives are connected with each other in the U.S. and abroad.
Pass a Resolution
The culmination of your local campaign will be passing a divestment resolution. Don't forget to follow up and ensure that the resolution is actually implemented once passed.
Connect: Join Annual Divestment Conferences
In October 2002, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor hosted The Second National Student Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement.
There is a need to also bring together activists/groups who are working on community-level divestment in cities, pension funds, labor unions, retail boycotts, and other areas. Holding annual or regular conferences on divestment will allow you to:
- Connect with other groups and organizations with which you can share experiences.
- Get an update on divestment initiatives that you may know nothing about.
- Draw media attention to the conflict, to the human rights abuses against the Palestinians under occupation, and to why divestment is a growing movement.
- Organize nationally instead of only locally with other groups, expanding the quantity and quality of support.
- Prepare a national agenda based on previous accomplishments and current progress.
Share: Talk About Your Experience
- Post information online on your group's web site or create a web site where visitors can get information and receive updates on the progress of your campaign.
- Hold speaking events in local community centers, churches, and schools. Organize speaking tours in several cities or states to talk about your campaign and bring others aboard.
- Create an action guide sharing your campaign experiences and drawing on the lessons you learned in the process. Explain how you followed this guide's steps, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations.
- Contact your local media regularly to bring attention to the campaign.
