A BDS Victory — and Beyond

Bill Balderston

Posted November 29, 2025

People packed the Alameda County board room and Zoom on October 3, as supervisors considered a new investment policy. (Credit: Natalie Orenstein/The Oaklandside)

After an 18-month campaign by Bay Area Divest (BAD), the Alameda County (California) Board of Supervisors on May 3 adopted an Ethical Investment Policy (EIP) barring county investment in “companies that consistently, knowingly and directly facilitate and enable severe violations of human rights.” The policy is the first of its kind for any county in the US.

This campaign involved a broad coalition, including the Divest from Apartheid Committee of East Bay DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace, Palestine Youth Movement, Arab Resource and Organizing Center. The labor movement was also strong, including Bay Area Labor for Palestine, Service Employees International Union Local 1021, the Oakland Education Association, and the Alameda Central Labor Council.

County Treasurer Hank Levy crafted the EIP’s specific language. Levy has roots in the labor left through his involvement with the Plant Closure Project.

The county board had stalled a vote on the policy for months until a special board meeting was called. Even then, the board delayed implementation of the new policy until further “investigation of legal impact.” Only Supervisor Nikki Bas of Oakland advocated it go into effect immediately. Still, it was seen as an important win by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. While the EIP does not specifically mention Israel/Palestine, the policy clearly emerged as a product of the Palestine solidarity movement.

Pressure on the Board of Supervisors for swift implementation must continue.

Palestinian campaigners in the East Bay have also won these fights recently:

Alameda County divested $32 million in Caterpillar, which produces bulldozers used by the Israeli army to destroy Palestinian homes and villages.
The cities of Hayward and Dublin divested their stock holdings in companies linked to the Zionist occupation.
The Alameda Labor Council endorsed the “Arms Out of Oakland” coalition’s demand that the Oakland Airport ban the shipping of F-35 fighter parts used in Gaza.

Bill Balderston is member of Solidarity, East Bay DSA and Bay Area Labor for Palestine