On Thursday at 7:30 am, around three dozen activists rallied outside the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) offices at 1201 3rd Avenue, highlighting the bank’s financial ties to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense contractor. The demonstration consisted of strategically blocking the parking garage entrance to draw attention to BNY Mellon’s investments of $13 million in the company.
Elbit Systems, a major player in defense technology, recently announced receiving significant contracts from the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) during the “Swords of Iron War.” Since the onset of the Siege of Gaza, the company has seen a surge in demand for its drones and other weapons of war from the IMOD, surpassing routine levels.
Additionally, recent disclosures reveal that BNY Mellon owns nearly 68,000 shares of Elbit Systems valued at around $13.4 million as of September 30, 2023. Those figures represent a significant increase of about 22% in shares during the quarter.
The protest outside BNY Mellon aimed to shed light on these financial connections and to urge the bank to reconsider its investments in a company deeply involved in military activities. The choice to block the parking garage entrance was a strategic move, disrupting the building’s operations and symbolizing the impact of the bank’s indirect support for controversial military actions.
It’s worth noting that BNY Mellon also manages the donor fund for Friends of the Israeli Defense Fund, further linking financial institutions to the perpetuation of conflict.
The protest has sparked discussions both online and offline, with supporters praising the activists for their bold stance, while critics question the disruption caused by targeting a specific bank. Some on the street made their opinions known as they screamed at protestors or yelled from their vehicles. Others on the street honked in support or stopped to talk with protestors who were handing out food and coffee and passing out information sheets.
While rumors of major South African banks providing banking platforms to “fund” Hamas exist in Israeli media outlets, the story has yet to run as major international news. However, the proof that BNY Mellon invests in IDF contractors is clear, despite its claims otherwise. In a statement to The Stranger, a company spokesperson repeated the claim that they “do not invest in Elbit Systems as it is not part of our securities portfolio” and that “the safety and wellbeing of our employees and clients continues to be our highest priority.”
As the public becomes more aware of the ethical implications of financial ties to defense contractors such as Elbit Systems, the pressure on institutions to reassess their investment choices is growing. BNY Mellon, along with other major financial players, may face increased scrutiny regarding their role in supporting companies involved in contentious geopolitical issues.
In the evolving landscape of global finance and activism, the demonstration outside BNY Mellon serves as a stark reminder of the intertwined nature of investments, geopolitics, and social responsibility. The conversation around divestment may gain momentum, prompting institutions to consider the ethical dimensions of their financial decisions. Time will tell how financial giants respond to this shifting paradigm and whether they choose to prioritize ethical considerations over financial gains.
While Seattle police arrived early to the location, meaning they likely had a heads up, they had made no arrests as of the time of publication.
it’s not even
Genocide
yet!
it’s merely
Mass Slaughter
Genocidal in Nature
10,000 murdered children
the PTSD
too Horrific
to Contemplate
starvation
NO Medical Services
no Hot Water no cold Water
no promise of an END to this
TERRORISM.
Our tax dollars at Work
that’s okay:
we’ll just
call it
Something Else.
Next up: a boycott of Israeli couscous.
Next up: a boycott of bagels and lox (by the way that’s local salmon and local bread).
Ooh!
Such trembling.
Not.
You know all you have to do is have Hamas surrender and release all the hostages.
@3: “You know all you have to do is have Hamas surrender and release all the hostages.”
No, none of that can happen, and there is nothing any protester could possibly do to make any of it happen, either. Hamas is like a force of nature. It simply exists; there is nothing anyone could ever possibly do about it. There’s certainly no action any protesters could ever possibly take, like, say, blocking the entrance to a bank which funds Hamas:
‘While rumors of major South African banks providing banking platforms to “fund” Hamas exist in Israeli media outlets, the story has yet to run as major international news.‘
Nothing to see here folks; just move along. (And there certainly could not possibly be any connection between South African banks, Hamas’ genocide in Israel on 10/7, and South Africa’s government officially accusing Israel of genocide, because any such connection could make South Africa’s accusation look very, very much less like principled interest, and way more like intense interest in the principal…)
The Venn diagram between the pro Hamas crowd and those who just got paid for the BLM protests is a perfect circle.
Time to buy some stock in BNY Mellon, traded on the NYSE, symbol BK. Growth industry.
and those equating
Anti-nutnyahooism
with anti-Semitism’s
either Dunning/Kro-
gered or just Lying.
or both.
Pro Palestine, the new fashion for leftist, seeking to redeem their own ancestral sins through virtue signaling. It’s the Israelis that suffered genocide, complete loss of a homeland, and true ties to the holly land. Americans are so naive and full of shit. You are genocidal occupiers and yet you will not vacate your seat but telling other to do so, so you can feel good about yourselves. Now don’t trip over the homeless encampments ya’ll nurtured in the streets.
@8
Conservanut…
That’s at least a little bit creative.
Still, it’s just as childish as the name calling the right likes to engage in, proving once again that the left and the right aren’t really that different.
nyt:
“The United Nations’ highest court said on Friday that Israel must take action to prevent acts of genocide by its forces in Gaza and must let more aid into the enclave. But the court did not call on Israel to immediately suspend its military campaign.”
yeah
Nutnyahoo
shredded that doc-
ument on Genocide Ages ago
so it’ll be a little fucking ‘Difficult’ to follow
and so it’s to be
Regional War.
oh, Goody:
Armageddon.
adios,
Schloggers!
see you in hades.
Way to Go wormy!
you’re “Winning”!
War is Evil.
END the
fucking
WAR
oh & stop the
TERRORISM:
there is NO
Justification
for Terrorism
fucking
EVER.
so end that too.
As expected, the Court used the actual definition of genocide from international law (https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.1_Convention%20on%20the%20Prevention%20and%20Punishment%20of%20the%20Crime%20of%20Genocide.pdf), not whatever extra-special, double-secret, no-backsies definition the Stranger and the I-5 Freeway Ambulance Blockers use. Under the actual definition, no genocide has yet occurred in Gaza. (Such is the hazard of trying to redefine the meanings of words to suit political agendas, a topic upon which George Orwell had much to say, all of it always relevant and highly critical.)
This puts the Stranger, the protesters it lovingly approves, and supportive commenters in a tough spot. Hamas just declined Israel’s offer of a cease-fire, so continuing to demand a cease-fire of Israel makes no sense. (Demanding a ceasefire from Hamas remains doubleplus unpossible, because SHUT UP THAT’S WHY.)
Meanwhile, we’re seeing allegations South African banks have been conduits for funding Hamas. Both the US and EU have declared Hamas a terrorist organization, but South Africa has not. So we could see a diplomatic clash if South Africa continues to see nothing wrong with sending money to the 10/7 killers and rapists. (Will the protesters who blocked BNY Mellon do the same for South African banks, consulates, and embassies? Suuuuuuuuuuure they will…)
It would take a bit more effort than hanging around downtown, but protesters would have a much more direct impact on Israel’s ability to wage war if they chose to blockade JBLM or Naval Base Kitsap instead of an office building.
Must’ve been another slow day down at Evergreen State College. So nice to see that rich white kids can virtue signal with daddy’s money and practice anti-Semitism in the big city.
The mask wearing is a courageous touch.