Residents press Boulder council to divest from companies tied to Gaza hostilities; councilors note UN findings and public concern
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Summary
Multiple residents urged the City Council to divest city funds from companies they associate with harms in Gaza and to adopt a ceasefire resolution; speakers cited recent international findings and urged urgent local action. Councilmembers acknowledged the comments and some indicated interest in humanitarian aid measures and follow-up.
A series of residents used the meeting’s open comment period to call on the Boulder City Council to divest city funds from companies they believe are complicit in harms in Gaza and to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Speakers cited recent determinations by international bodies and civil society groups and asked the council to divest from companies including Microsoft and Caterpillar and to adopt a ceasefire resolution. Several speakers identified themselves as members of Boulder’s Jewish community and others described personal ties to Gaza; some urged the council to treat the matter as an ethical obligation. One speaker read from international reports and urged immediate divestment and a public statement.
Councilmembers thanked the speakers and acknowledged the depth of feeling in the community. Councilmember Taisha Adams specifically thanked speakers and expressed concern about escalating violence in certain locations tied to a Boulder sister‑city relationship, saying she appreciated references to humanitarian aid and the ongoing dialogue. Council members asked staff to route follow‑up questions to the appropriate offices and to consider avenues such as cosponsoring humanitarian aid measures.
No formal council action to divest or pass a ceasefire resolution was taken during the meeting; council discussion acknowledged public sentiment and indicated staff follow‑up on procedural questions and possible future items.
Speakers (partial list): Susan Hall; Bella Wexler; Patty Fuster Aguilar; Zoe Silverman; Mary Pettigrew; others. Their remarks included references to United Nations Human Rights Council findings and appeals to the city’s ethical responsibilities.
Council took no binding action at the meeting on divestment or a ceasefire resolution; staff and council members indicated they would continue to receive public comment and consider procedural pathways for items brought formally to the council.