Break the Bonds NC

State pension holders and multifaith coalition deliver divestment petition signed by nearly 5,000 North Carolinians to Office of the Treasurer.

Raleigh, NC — Yesterday NC state pension holders and members of a multifaith coalition gathered in the state capital to deliver a petition demanding that NC Treasurer Brad Briner divest from $6.4 million in Israeli government bonds held in their pension fund, and re-invest that money in North Carolina.

The petition, signed by nearly 5000 North Carolinians and endorsed by 37 partner organizations, reads:

“The people of North Carolina do not want a retirement fund invested in genocide, occupation, and apartheid…We demand that our savings be used to make our communities stronger and healthier, not to fund crimes against humanity abroad.”

Currently, North Carolina has $7.4 million invested in Israeli government bonds. $6.4 million of that is in the State Pension Fund, into which state and municipal workers, teachers and many UNC system workers pay a portion of their salaries and from which they receive a pension upon retirement. These bonds – bought in addition to the billions of U.S. taxpayer money sent to Israel each year – are a loan to the Israeli government. Israel has been widely condemned for war crimes and genocidal violence against Palestinians.

The petition notes that investment in Israel’s economy is financially risky and has a poor return. The bonds held by the state pension fund have a return rate of just 2.75% and 3.25%. The Israeli economy has been downgraded by international ratings agencies Moody’s and S&P; according to Bloomberg, this “two-notch downgrade leaves [Israel’s] nation three steps above junk.”

Royden Saah, a Raleigh resident vested in the state pension, said,

“I know Brad Briner inherited these bonds and doesn’t think the risk is worth the minimal return. I agree with him and urge him to divest. I earned this pension while protecting North Carolinians’ well-being and do not want it to be complicit in a genocide.”

-Royden Saah, pension-holder and Raleigh resident

A group of 40 people assembled outside of the State Treasurer’s Office to hear from campaign supporters from across the Triangle and Charlotte, and then four North Carolinians delivered the petition to Treasurer Office Chief of Staff Eric Naisbitt. They call for an end to the use of NC public funds to support Israel’s illegal occupation and ongoing assault on Palestinians. 

“We want our investments to support the urgent needs of our North Carolina communities, including improving our infrastructure, schools, libraries, and healthcare systems. Given the ongoing rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Helene and tropical depression Chantal, and the federal cuts to education and healthcare, we’re certain that Treasurer Briner can find higher-yielding investments that benefit our state.”

-Ari Rosenberg, member of Jewish Voice for Peace and Hillsborough resident

“Israel has destroyed homes, hospitals, schools, refugee tents, and places of worship in Gaza and the West Bank, funded by both American tax dollars and our tax dollars here at home,” Palestinian North Carolinians want to invest our tax money in stable, financially robust, and ethical funds that support life, not death.”

-Samira, member of PalYouthNC and Raleigh resident

The Break the Bonds NC campaign launched a petition this summer demanding that State Treasurer Briner immediately divest the state pension fund from Israel Bonds. The coalition gathered nearly 5000 signatures from across the state and 37 organizational endorsements, including from UE Local 150, the NC public workers union.