We need your help to ensure California’s teacher pension fund stays focused on its core mission and rejects pressure from a campaign of hate.
The CalSTRS Board of Directors is being targeted by CalSTRS Divest, a campaign launched in 2024 urging California’s largest educator pension fund to divest from companies with ties to Israel. This is part of the global BDS movement, which seeks to eliminate Israel. BDS supporters have been sending a steady stream of emails and petitions to the Board – and right now, they are the loudest voice in the room.
That needs to change. Fill out the form on this page to email the CalSTRS Board of Directors and urge them to reject BDS!
Here’s why surrendering to BDS pressure would be a serious mistake:
CalSTRS has a clear mission: ensure the long-term retirement security of California’s 1 million+ educators. BDS would very likely harm investment returns, putting the pensions and retirement security of educators at risk.
Divestment from Israel-connected companies would be financially damaging and practically unworkable. Attempting to identify and exit all relevant holdings would create significant and unnecessary administrative costs and burdens for CalSTRS.
The coalition behind CalSTRS Divest fuels hate and division in California. It includes groups that have celebrated the October 7th Massacre, posted antisemitic imagery and violent propaganda from U.S.-designated terrorist groups on social media, and attacked Holocaust education initiatives.
The BDS movement, which is behind CalSTRS Divest, does not promote justice or peace. BDS seeks to shut down Israeli-Palestinian cooperation and eliminate Israel.
According to the New York Times, the BDS National Committee (BNC) includes Hamas and other U.S.-designated terrorist groups. CalSTRS is actively coordinating with the BNC to promote divestment campaigns in U.S. state governments.
The CalSTRS Board has a fiduciary duty to its members. Allowing a campaign of hate to drive investment decisions would be bad for California educators, and bad for Israelis and Palestinians.
Take action now – email the CalSTRS Board and urge them to stay the course!
