The State Board of Investments meeting wasn’t supposed to be about the Middle East, but the public comment portion brought the issue to the forefront.
ST PAUL, Minnesota — The Minnesota State Board of Investment (SBI) didn’t plan on discussing the Israel-Hamas war at Tuesday’s meeting, but that changed when Palestinian supporters stepped in for public comment.
Face to face with the governor, state attorney general and other SBI members, Free Palestine Coalition expressed its desire to have the state divest from ties to Israel. From teachers to state workers, one by one the Palestinian supporters voiced their opposition to Israel’s actions in the war and decried financial support to the country.
“The choice I am asking you to make is not about taking sides, it’s about making a choice that defunds warfare in order to make space for peace,” Dr. Jimmy Hoke said during public comment.
Meredith Aby of …