ACLU rejects staff petition to divest from Israel and condemn war in Gaza

The American Civil Liberties Union reportedly rejected a petition this month from hundreds of staffers to publicly oppose U.S. military aid to Israel and divest from potential financial ties to the country amid its ongoing war with Gaza.

The national board of directors at the civil rights organization reportedly rejected the petition 50 to 4, with one abstention earlier this month, according to a memo obtained by The Intercept.

Leadership reportedly told the petitioners that the organization’s mission is to protect U.S. civil rights and liberties, so “a position on the war is not needed to carry out this essential domestic work.” The memo reportedly added that divestment would have a “very deleterious impact on our overall investment return,” and argued further that the ACLU “lacks expertise and staff dedicated to this region or conflict.”

“It is not the ACLU’s practice to take positions on overseas conflicts,” a spokesperson told the outlet in a statement.

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