And at the University of California, Berkeley, the student senate has failed to override a veto of a measure calling for divestment from companies linked to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Last month, the president of the student government vetoed a bill urging the school to divest from General Electric and United Technologies for the companies’ “military support of the occupation of the Palestinian territories.” Earlier today, the student senate voted 13-to-5 to bypass the veto — one vote shy of the total necessary for an override. The vote was held at around 4:00 in the morning local time following a lengthy session attended by over 200 people. San Francisco State graduate student Jacqueline Husary spoke out in favor of the divestment call.

Jacqueline Husary: “Divestment is not an act of aggression, as some may claim. Rather, it is a nonviolent act that precludes aggression against innocent, powerless people with names and real faces. You can no longer feign indifference or ignorance. But from this point on, you need to realize the consequences of your choices on real people and that the choice to continue investing incontrovertibly equals an act of aggression. Blood will forever be on your hands if you don’t make the right choice tonight.”