Providence Becomes Largest US City to Divest From Israel in Historic Vote

On Tuesday, voters in Providence, Rhode Island, overwhelmingly passed an ordinance requiring the city to divest from companies that enable genocide, apartheid, and human rights violations.

The ordinance is the Palestine solidarity movement’s first binding municipal divestment law passed through popular vote in the U.S. — and makes Providence the largest U.S. city to vote to divest from Israel.

The ordinance, listed on Providence’s ballot as Question 7, passed by 74.99 percent. It calls on the city to “divest from countries and companies profiting from genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and prolonged military occupation,” and became a ballot question due to a sustained, popular campaign led by the Providence for Palestine Coalition over the past year.