Somerville for Palestine members celebrate delivering a total of over 10,000 signatures for the Palestinian Solidarity Ballot Question. — Photo by Matt Abban

On Thursday, September 18, Somerville residents gathered at Somerville City Hall to deliver the final round of signatures bringing the total to over 10,000 submitted signatures for the Palestinian Solidarity Ballot Question. Starting in April 2025, volunteer canvassers have been gathering signatures throughout the week in all corners of Somerville, from Davis Square to East Somerville, talking to Somerville residents about signing on to take action for Palestine. 

“We’re overwhelmed and heartened by the outpouring of support for the Palestinian Solidarity Ballot Question in Somerville. Voters are clear, it’s time to end Somerville’s complicity in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians” says Pao Mendez, a Somerville human rights commissioner speaking for herself. These 10,000 plus signatures are the result of tens of thousands of conversations about Palestine and hundreds of volunteer hours. 

The language of the Palestinian Solidarity ballot question reads: 

“Shall the Mayor of Somerville and all Somerville elected leaders 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?” 

Due to the members and supporters of Somerville for Palestine’s advocacy, Somerville was the first city in Massachusetts to pass a ceasefire resolution in January 2024. Now, the ballot question calls on the city to end municipal contracts with companies that profit from Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians. According to a 2024 public records request, Somerville’s municipal employees’ Pension Fund is invested in 1,222 shares of Lockheed Martin, amounting to $553,859.28. Israel uses Lockheed Martin (LM) weapons, fighter jets, and other equipment to drop bombs on Palestinians, their homes, and their land. Israel has destroyed more than 92% of residential buildings in Gaza with LM’s AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, CAT bulldozers, and other US-supplied weapons and equipment. 

“Somerville has a history of standing up for what is right,” said Neda Mustafa, Palestinian-American Somerville resident,  “Just like Somerville chose to boycott and divest from apartheid South Africa, we can choose to boycott and divest from Israel’s ethnic violence against Palestinians.” 

Alain Jehlan, long-time Somerville resident and member of the Somerville for Palestine Jewish Caucus, wears a shirt reading “Jews say Let Gaza Live.” — Photo by Matt Abban

This ballot question is an example of a targeted boycott to apply non-violent pressure to Israel and its allies to cease their regime of violence, occupation, and apartheid against Palestinians. “Participating in the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement is the least we can do right now to honor the resilience and lives of Palestine past, present and future.” said Amina Awad, Palestinian-American Somerville resident. “BDS is not merely about a moral stand against genocide. It’s about having a material impact against companies that support apartheid.” 

On November 4th, once this question is placed on the ballot, Somerville voters will have the chance to vote to demand Somerville elected officials end the City’s economic ties to companies sustaining Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation. Already over 10,000 Somerville community members have shown their support to divest from Israel’s violence against Palestinians. Multinational companies complicit in clear, ongoing harm – particularly those with significant influence or impact– would be included in the City’s boycotts. The focus of this campaign is to target large complicit corporations. This absolutely does not include small local businesses with connections to Israel, and especially not local Jewish businesses. Hundreds of Jewish Somerville residents have signed on to Somerville for Palestine Jewish caucus’ letter condemning Israel’s violence and are proud members of the Palestinian Solidarity Ballot Campaign. 

Over 30 local organizations, including Union Square Neighborhood Council and Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville, have endorsed the ballot campaign so far. If the question passes in November, Somerville would join Medford, MA, Hayward, CA, Hamtramck, MI, Richmond, CA, and Portland, ME in voting to remove city money from companies complicit in Israel’s apartheid. 

“We, as Somervillians, lead the way by doing the right thing,” says Hala Jadallah, Palestinian-American and life-long Somerville resident, “In 2025, Somerville will be proud to pass the Palestinian Solidarity ballot question and be on the right side of history.” 

— Somerville for Palestine

Ed Childs speaks to Somerville for Palestine members about the urgency of taking action to end Somerville’s funding of Israeli violence against Palestinians. — Photo by Leila Skinner