New Jersey Solidarity

TELL NJ GOV. MCGREEVEY - NO $20 MILLION TO ISRAEL!

On the heels of New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's concession to the free speech rights of Rutgers University and its students to host the Third North American Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement on October 10-12, 2003, which he has continued to denounce as "abhorrent," McGreevey has announced that the New Jersey pension fund plans to invest $20 million in Israel bonds this year. This follows in the wake of several other noted incidents of pro-Zionist bias in McGreevey's past, including:

*During his 2001 campaign, he refused to speak before the American Muslim Alliance, and was actually forced to apologize, as he had raised concerns about their "support for violence." He had spoken before the group in the past, and his Republican challenger, Bret Schundler, had spoken before the large, mainstream Muslim organization.

*When speaking before an Arab American Institute candidates' forum, when asked if he could be a fair and balanced political leader, he replied that he was "very much a friend of Israel." (The questioner had not asked him about Palestine.)

*When nominating a director for New Jersey's Homeland Security department, he nominated Golan Cipel, a former IDF soldier, to head the department because of his "experience." McGreevey met Cipel on a campaign trip to Israel; Cipel could not be confirmed in the position, however, because as an Israeli citizen without US citizenship, he could not obtain the required security clearance without seeking US citizenship. Cipel was granted another job advising McGreevey.

*Soon after his election, revolutionary Black nationalist poet Amiri Baraka was appointed to be the state's Poet Laureate. Baraka, who had not sought the position, warned McGreevey that his appointment would be controversial. McGreevey continued with the appointment. After Baraka read his poem (writtena nd published before the appointment), "Who Blew Up America?", critical of Israel, McGreevey allied with state legislators who sought to fire him, and then, noting the free speech problems, worked with those legislators to abolish the position of Poet Laureate.

*When McGreevey's office became aware of the Palestine solidarity conference occurring at Rutgers in October 2003, the governor immediately stated "concerns" about the conference being an "anti-Israel rally." While forced to concede that the conference's occurrence is a free speech issue, McGreevey ordered the host group, New Jersey Solidarity, investigated by the state's department of counterterrorism. (The group was cleared.)

McGreevey's office sent the following letter:

James McGreevey
Governor

Dear Friend:

Having served as the gateway for so many groups of immigrants coming to this nation in search of freedom and oppurtunity,New Jersey is indeed a state rich in ethnic diversity.New Jersey is particularly proud of its strong Jewish heritage and the community's contribution to both our State and Nation.We are hard at work - with the Jewish community and its leadership - to build a future that benifits all New Jerseyans.

For the first time,the state is investing our pension funds in State of Israel bonds - $20 million worth.But,please know that this is not merely a symbolic act.While the investment definitely articulates something important about our state's priorities and values,it also serves as a sound financial decision.We are receiving an extremely attractive yield on the bonds,which we expext to be a wise investment in the retirement of our state employees.These five-year bonds will pay a 4.05% annual interest - an appealing rate considering the economic environment.

I am also proud that -dispite historic deficits-we were able to provide full funding to the New Jersey Holocaust Commision.We all have a moral responsibility to recall the horrors of the past,guarantee their rememberance for generations to come and ensure that the actions of the wicked are brought to light.As such,out charge is to always speak out and raise our voices against evil.In doing so,we keep alive the memories of those innocents who perished. The Commision - which I had the honor os serving on some 20 years ago - will continue to assist and advise public schools on how best to teach new Jersey's children about the Holocaust and genocide in world history.

This administration remains committed to ensuring the best possible quality of life for all New jerseyans regardless of race,creed or where you live.While unemployment has skyrocketed all across the country,we have created nearly 29,000 new jobs here in new Jersey in the last three months alone. We are also easing traffic congestion and making our roads safer with a $2.58 billion transportation project that will support 105,000 jobs.

We are providing over $8 billion to new jersey's schools - over $200 million more that last year - and continue to invest in initiatives that improve teaching,learning and innovations in classrooms throughout the state.Our $19 million reading coaches program is focused on improving literacy instruction so every child can be a strong reader by the end of 3rd grade.I am proud that new Jersey is the first state in the nation to offer a comprehensive program offering incentives for teachers to seek certification from the National Board of Teaching Standards.We also added funding for teacher mentoring and streamlined the certification process to get teachers into classrooms quicker.And,we are embarking on an $8.6 billion school construction initiative unparalleled anywhere in the nation.

This administration remains committed to ensuring that each state agency delivers the best possible services to new jersey.It is only through the continued commitment and support of dedicated individuals such as yourself that we may hope to provide a better quality of life for all New Jerseyans. In the months ahead,we look foward to working with you to help our state continue to grow and flourish.

With all good wishes

James E. McGreevey

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Write! Call! Speak Out!

Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton NJ 08625
Phone: (609) 292-6000
Fax: (609) 292-3454
Email: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html

Tell James McGreevey that the pension funds of New Jersey's state workers should not be sent to shore up the Israeli state! While Israel is constructing an apartheid wall devastating Palestinian land, continuing its brutal military occupation of Palestinian land, denying Palestinians equality under law and persecuting their political leadership inside and outside the Green Line, legislating that Palestinians may not marry Israelis and receive Israeli citizenship, continuing its support of illegal settlements, holding thousands of Palestinians as political prisoners, denying millions of Palestinian refugees their fundamental, human right to return to their homes and homeland dispossessed by Zionist forces, harassing and arresting international human rights activists and continuing its vast military buildup, New Jersey's funds, and the funds of New Jersey's state workers, should not be used to support those illegal, immoral acts! While economic problems grip the state and its private and public sectors, money should be invested in New Jersey, not in Israeli war crimes and rights abuses!

Tell the Governor:
*Stop the investment in Israeli Bonds
*Call upon Rutgers University and all state agencies to divest all holdings in Israel and companies that do business with Israel!

Sign the Rutgers University Divestment Petition: www.rutgersdivest.org

Attend the Third Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement: www.divestmentconference.com

New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine August 7, 2003

November 2002 Action Alert re: Daily Targum

March 2003 Action Alert re: "From the river to the Sea" banner

June 2003 Action Alert re: Citispot Cafe

July 2003 Action Alert re: Attacks on Conference

September 2003 Action Alert re: Rutgers Admin cancels conference venue