This week CREF investors are receiving in their mailboxes proxy reports with a very disappointing omission.
Missing from the report is a resolution that called on CREF to divest from companies whose businesses support egregious human rights abuses. The proponents hoped to give CREF shareholders a chance to share their views on this issue with TIAA-CREF. But, just as they did in 2011, TIAA-CREF has shown that they do not wish to hear from their clients on urgent social and moral issues.
CREF will be meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, July 16th. No matter where you are on that day, you can be a part of a National Day of Action and let TIAA-CREF know they can’t silence you!
While TIAA-CREF refuses to allow their shareholders to vote their moral conscience, it cannot silence you. Together, even without the proxy proposal that TIAA-CREF should have shared with all CREF participants, we can forcefully send the message to TIAA-CREF that profiting from home demolitions, segregated roads, and military assaults on Palestinian communities is not “for the greater good.”
In 2011 we had 22 cities participate in a National Day of Action–we would love to match that again this year! Here are two things you can do to help keep the pressure on TIAA-CREF:
- Be a part of the National Day of Action! Let us know you will be organizing something in your local community!
- Help boost attendance at the meeting in Charlotte. All TIAA-CREF participants are entitled to attend, or to sign over their proxy to allow someone to attend in their stead. Please let us know if you can be there in Charlotte and/or if you have a proxy to sign over.
Onward!
Alissa
National Coordinator, We Divest Campaign
