Monday, September 25, 2006
Back on September 6, Somerville News warned:
Indeed, the folks from the Somerville Divestment Project, the folks who just can't take NO for an answer are back, and they've narrowed their focus a bit, this time offering a couple of stealth questions in a particular State Rep. District that amount to a stealth effort to get the public to ratify something, anything, from their agenda, while hiding it behind rather mild language. Don't be deceived. It's the same people, same agenda.
Long time readers will be familiar with the issue of Divestment in Somerville, Mass., and the failed efforts of this group to use Somerville in the global effort to destroy Israel (not an exageration, I'm afraid). Here's a search on Somerville on this blog for those who would like to wade into the background (start with the 11/04 posting). See also Jon Haber's site, Somerville Middle East Justice for lots of cogent background. 
We never thought they'd just fade away, and sure enough, they're back. The SDP had the polling stations in the 27th District covered with sign-holding adherents (see pics). While it was only a primary election, and thus the questions were not on the ballot yet, this was a way for them to start "educating" likely voters. Let's let Somerville News explain it (and don't miss the comments):
The Somerville Divestment Project (SDP) announced this week they had gathered the required number of signatures to place two questions concerning Israeli and Palestinian relations on the ballot in state Rep. Denise Provost’s district...
The first question asks voters to call on Provost to support the state of Massachusetts issuing a statement in support of the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The second question asks voters if they support Massachusetts divesting from Israeli bonds and military companies tied to Israel’s occupation.
Provost said she felt a public discourse on United States policy in the Middle East could be useful but questioned the phrasing of the questions put forth by SDP.
“I don’t think these questions are particularly helpful,” Provost said... 
...Somerville, through Caterpillar Tractor, profits off illegal attacks on Palestinian homes, schools, ambulances, and the destruction of millions of Palestinian olive trees – an economic mainstay of the Palestinian population, [Andover High School teacher Ron] Francis said [see photo - Francis is on right].
Maryna [sic - Marya] Axner is a Somerville resident who has worked to defeat SDP’s goal of local divestment. She said the resolution on the ballot divides people with common goals.
“The resolution gives people information that is erroneous in its facts and works against Middle East peace rather than bring people who have common areas of interest together towards a peaceful solution,” Axner said.
Alan Ronkin, President of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said SDP is an extreme, radical group and its proposal to divest Israeli bonds in Somerville will benefit no one...“It’s just a symbolic move to demonize Israel.”
Ronkin said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and U.S. Congressman Michael E. Capuano, D-Somerville, also oppose divestment...
As did the entire Somerville Board of Aldermen. But can they accomplish their -- purely symbolic -- goal by picking an individual district and trying to sell their bill of goods under the rubric of "human rights?" Not if people are paying attention. Let's hope they are when November rolls around. Yes, "our friends" working against this effort had people at some of the polling stations for part of the day, speaking to people and handing out quickly-made fliers. But as I understand it, SDP had every station covered all day long. They have paid staff.
Stay tuned.
[Extra: Here's the announcement of the new effort in the Green-Rainbow Party's paper, Bridge News.]
The "divester" crowd has not gone away. They may have suffered some recent setbacks. But they are regrouping in their holes and will arise again pushing their anti-semitism disguised as divestment.
Hmmmm.... I didn't bother to vote (as a Republican, showing up at the primary is a pointless exercise) but it doesn't sound like this affected my district anyway. At least those nuts aren't stapling their crazy fliers to my trees this year!
My polling place is in this district, and I stood in front of it for three hours, from 7 to 10 am, holding a Deval Patrick sign. I saw other sign-holders for Tom Reilly and Andrea Silbert, but nobody from SDP.
I like the signs that say...
"F", "F" PaleSWINE.
and
End The Occupation Of North America By Europeans.