Residents of Somerville, Massachusetts, voted Tuesday to pass a non-binding ballot measure recommending that city officials abstain from contracting with businesses that sustain "Israel's apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine." The measure passed with 11,489 votes for and 7,920 against.
The initiative was brought forth by Somerville for Palestine—"an intergenerational, interracial, interfaith group of Somerville Community members united in our steadfast advocacy for Palestinian liberation," according to its Instagram account. The measure asked voters whether Sommerville's elected officials should be instructed to "end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel's apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine."
