The City Council Public Hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, on February 22, 2025, featured intense discussions surrounding the city’s investment policies, particularly regarding companies linked to military operations in Israel and their implications for human rights.

During the meeting, community members urged the council to divest from corporations they accused of profiting from violence and human suffering in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A prominent speaker highlighted Lockheed Martin as a key example of a "war profiteer," emphasizing that over 73% of the company's sales come from the U.S. government. The speaker detailed how Lockheed Martin's products, including fighter jets and missiles, have been implicated in civilian casualties in Gaza, citing specific incidents involving their weaponry.

Another speaker, Cameron White, described the situation in Gaza as a form of genocide, pointing to the destruction of infrastructure and loss of life as evidence of systematic oppression. White criticized the council for not taking action against companies like Lockheed Martin and others, which he claimed support these actions through their investments.

The discussions reflected a broader call for ethical investment practices and accountability from the city government. Community members expressed a strong desire for Alexandria to take a stand against what they termed complicity in human rights violations by divesting from companies that profit from military actions in conflict zones.

As the meeting concluded, the urgency for the council to reconsider its investment strategies was clear, with advocates urging immediate action to align the city’s financial practices with its stated values regarding human rights and social justice. The council's response to these calls for divestment remains to be seen, as community members await further developments on this pressing issue.