The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is a Virginia state agency that administers pension plans, retirement savings plans, and other benefits to public employees. But instead of investing in companies that actually benefit Virginians and respect human rights, they have proactively chosen to invest in multinational corporations that have killed 60,000 Palestinians since October 2023 alone, not to mention millions of others in never-ending US wars all around the world. Their definition of “sound financial stewardship” is to invest over $300 million (over 21% of the overall VRS holdings) in companies that profit directly from war and genocide.
The VRS claims to be in interest of the people of Virginia, but, in reality a small group of decisionmakers force all Virginia public employees to profit from genocide and mass destruction against their will or input.
The VRS claims to be in interest of the people of Virginia, but, in reality a small group of decisionmakers force all Virginia public employees to profit from genocide and mass destruction against their will or input.
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Our futures do not have to be funded by weapons and war. The No Pensions for Genocide Campaign calls on the VRS to invest in life, not death and destruction. The blood of the Palestinian people is not to be traded with. The VRS can invest ethically and end its complicity in genocide. Take a stand today. Sign and share the petition: bit.ly/VRSdivest
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On August 20th, Virginians attended the VRS Investment Advisory Committee in Richmond to deliver the No Pensions for Genocide Petition. For over 3 weeks, several hundred emails have been sent to VRS board members, demanding they divest from war and genocide. At this meeting, they reported a net profit, increasing the value of the fund to a record high of $122.8 billion in market value. When presented with the petition, they treated the voices of Virginians as insignificant, and dismissively said they would take the petition “under advisement”. Further advisement would only convey what Virginians have already made clear: no profits over people. They reject VRS’s culture of generating profit without limit, and at a great cost to humanity.
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We demand the VRS
- Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people
- Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any companies that manufacture or ship weapons components.
Sign the petition today: bit.ly/VRSdivest (link in bio)
- Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people
- Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any companies that manufacture or ship weapons components.
Sign the petition today: bit.ly/VRSdivest (link in bio)
American Muslims for Palestine
[Petition] Tell The Virginia Retirement System (VRS): No Pensions for Genocide!
The VRS invests hundreds of millions of dollars of its total $1.4 billion directly in weapons and shipping companies that have been responsible for the genocide in Gaza. Join us as we demand VRS: No Pensions for Genocide!
Forwarded from PYM DMV Announcements
Tune in to hear PYM DMV on the radio today, Sept 9 at 7PM ON WPFW 89.3fm!–
Tune in to hear about PYM work locally and internationally, recent takeaways from the People's Conference for Palestine, local campaigns for a people's arms embargo, confronting the GHF, the federal takeover of DC, and upcoming UNGA march happening in NYC to demand immediate sanctions on Israel and an end to the genocide.
Thank you to WPFW for being an example of principled media in a sea of outlets who cater their messages to the desire of the ruling class over the masses. Tune in tonight to "Liberation on Our Minds" and daily to WPFW for deep and authentic reporting serving the people from the heart of DC.
You can tune in online at wpfwfm.org
Tune in to hear about PYM work locally and internationally, recent takeaways from the People's Conference for Palestine, local campaigns for a people's arms embargo, confronting the GHF, the federal takeover of DC, and upcoming UNGA march happening in NYC to demand immediate sanctions on Israel and an end to the genocide.
Thank you to WPFW for being an example of principled media in a sea of outlets who cater their messages to the desire of the ruling class over the masses. Tune in tonight to "Liberation on Our Minds" and daily to WPFW for deep and authentic reporting serving the people from the heart of DC.
You can tune in online at wpfwfm.org
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Sign the petition to demand the Virginia Retirement System divest from death and genocide at vrsdivest.org!
We’re here in the heart of Richmond, in front of the Virginia Retirement System. The VRS is the state agency that administers pension plans, retirement savings plans, and other benefits of the state and local public employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VRS has invested over $300 million in arms manufacturers and Maersk, which ships those weapons components, to Israel for their genocide against Palestinians.
The VRS claims to be in interest of the people of Virginia, but in reality a small group of decision makers force all VA public employees and taxpayers to fund the genocide and mass destruction of Palestinians against their will or input. All people deserve to have assurance that their retirement investments are not only secure, but also aligned with their values in opposition to war and genocide including the US-backed genocide in Gaza which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians
We’re here in the heart of Richmond, in front of the Virginia Retirement System. The VRS is the state agency that administers pension plans, retirement savings plans, and other benefits of the state and local public employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VRS has invested over $300 million in arms manufacturers and Maersk, which ships those weapons components, to Israel for their genocide against Palestinians.
The VRS claims to be in interest of the people of Virginia, but in reality a small group of decision makers force all VA public employees and taxpayers to fund the genocide and mass destruction of Palestinians against their will or input. All people deserve to have assurance that their retirement investments are not only secure, but also aligned with their values in opposition to war and genocide including the US-backed genocide in Gaza which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians
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Sign the petition and demand that the VRS:
1. Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
2. Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any company that manufactures or ships weapons or weapons components.
1. Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
2. Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any company that manufactures or ships weapons or weapons components.
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If you had $300 million, what would you invest it in?
We asked Virginia community members this question and every person responded with social services that support the everyday Virginian: better housing, education, and healthcare. So why don’t we have a say into how our money is invested?
The VRS takes the hard earned pensions and taxes of Virginians and invests more than $300 million in companies that profit off of war and genocide. As one community member said, “these corporations prioritize fast and cheap returns, not the community. This must be changed.”
We are fighting for a Virginia that serves the people and our futures, not corporate interests. Join us! Sign the petition at vrsdivest.org and reach out to get more involved!
We asked Virginia community members this question and every person responded with social services that support the everyday Virginian: better housing, education, and healthcare. So why don’t we have a say into how our money is invested?
The VRS takes the hard earned pensions and taxes of Virginians and invests more than $300 million in companies that profit off of war and genocide. As one community member said, “these corporations prioritize fast and cheap returns, not the community. This must be changed.”
We are fighting for a Virginia that serves the people and our futures, not corporate interests. Join us! Sign the petition at vrsdivest.org and reach out to get more involved!
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SIGN THE PETITION! THE VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM MUST DIVEST FROM WEAPONS AND WAR!
vrsdivest.org
The VRS invests $300 million in weapons manufacturers and logistics companies who directly profit from war and genocide. The VRS claims to be in the interest of the people in Virginia but, in reality, a small group of decision makers force Virginia public employees to profit from genocide and mass destruction against their will or input. Our futures do not have to be funded by weapons and war.
Sign the petition and demand that the VRS:
1. Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
2. Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any company that manufactures or ships weapons or weapons components.
vrsdivest.org
The VRS invests $300 million in weapons manufacturers and logistics companies who directly profit from war and genocide. The VRS claims to be in the interest of the people in Virginia but, in reality, a small group of decision makers force Virginia public employees to profit from genocide and mass destruction against their will or input. Our futures do not have to be funded by weapons and war.
Sign the petition and demand that the VRS:
1. Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
2. Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any company that manufactures or ships weapons or weapons components.
ORGANIZATIONS: ENDORSE THE NO PENSIONS FOR GENOCIDE CAMPAIGN! THE VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM MUST DIVEST FROM WEAPONS AND WAR!
Fill out the form at vrsdivest.org/endorse.
The VRS invests $300 million in weapons manufacturers and logistics companies who directly profit from war and genocide. This local People’s Arms Embargo campaign is building a mass movement calling on the VRS to divest from these weapons manufacturers and logistics companies. Organizations can endorse the campaign and get more involved by filling out the form.
By endorsing organizations are supporting the demands that the VRS:
1. Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
2. Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any company that manufactures or ships weapons or weapons components.
Fill out the form at vrsdivest.org/endorse.
The VRS invests $300 million in weapons manufacturers and logistics companies who directly profit from war and genocide. This local People’s Arms Embargo campaign is building a mass movement calling on the VRS to divest from these weapons manufacturers and logistics companies. Organizations can endorse the campaign and get more involved by filling out the form.
By endorsing organizations are supporting the demands that the VRS:
1. Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
2. Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any company that manufactures or ships weapons or weapons components.
PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY AT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING: THE VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM MUST DIVEST FROM GENOCIDE
Join the No Pensions for Genocide campaign on Thursday, November 13 for a press conference and rally outside the VRS to learn more about the campaign and to demand the VRS divest from the companies fueling endless wars and the genocide in Gaza!
📍: VRS, 1091 E Main St Richmond, VA
🗓️: Thurs, Nov 13
⏰: 12:30 PM
Join the No Pensions for Genocide campaign on Thursday, November 13 for a press conference and rally outside the VRS to learn more about the campaign and to demand the VRS divest from the companies fueling endless wars and the genocide in Gaza!
📍: VRS, 1091 E Main St Richmond, VA
🗓️: Thurs, Nov 13
⏰: 12:30 PM
The VRS invests $300 million into companies that manufacture and ship weapons and weapons components for the genocide in Gaza. To date, thousands of emails have been sent to the VRS calling on them to
◦ Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
◦ Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any companies that manufacture or ship weapons or weapons components.
In response, the VRS has refused any accountability for their complicity in genocide and attempted to evade their responsibility to pension payers and Virginia taxpayers. VRS puts profit over people. We say no longer. We deserve a say in where our taxes and pensions go. Sign the petition and endorse the campaign at vrsdivest.org.
◦ Divest any direct holdings in weapons manufacturers and shipping companies that facilitate the genocide of the Palestinian people.
◦ Revise the VRS investment policy to ensure that it does not invest in any companies that manufacture or ship weapons or weapons components.
In response, the VRS has refused any accountability for their complicity in genocide and attempted to evade their responsibility to pension payers and Virginia taxpayers. VRS puts profit over people. We say no longer. We deserve a say in where our taxes and pensions go. Sign the petition and endorse the campaign at vrsdivest.org.
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Virginia’s pensions are funding genocide, and the VRS is silencing those who speak out.
A Virginia firefighter was violently arrested while simply delivering our divestment petition to the Virginia Retirement System Board of Trustees. The VRS will meet with corporations complicit in genocide but refuse to hear even one minute from the people actually funding the system.
While Palestinians are being killed with U.S.–made bombs, VRS invests over $300 million into the corporations that build and ship those weapons. VRS claims to serve the people of Virginia, yet it forcibly ties the livelihood of over 850,000 public employees to companies profiting off of mass murder.
As the firefighter said in the video:
“My fellow Virginians and I work for the betterment of our communities. We enrich our communities, and we want the funds and our pensions to reflect that. And we also believe that everyone should be able to have assurance that their retirement funds are not only secure but aligned with their values.”
A Virginia firefighter was violently arrested while simply delivering our divestment petition to the Virginia Retirement System Board of Trustees. The VRS will meet with corporations complicit in genocide but refuse to hear even one minute from the people actually funding the system.
While Palestinians are being killed with U.S.–made bombs, VRS invests over $300 million into the corporations that build and ship those weapons. VRS claims to serve the people of Virginia, yet it forcibly ties the livelihood of over 850,000 public employees to companies profiting off of mass murder.
As the firefighter said in the video:
“My fellow Virginians and I work for the betterment of our communities. We enrich our communities, and we want the funds and our pensions to reflect that. And we also believe that everyone should be able to have assurance that their retirement funds are not only secure but aligned with their values.”
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