Campaigners had ‘no more words’ as they asked Slough Borough Council to cut pension ties with companies that supply arms or military technology to Israel.
At a full council meeting at Observatory House on Thursday (24 July), campaigners dressed in black funeral outfits and veils, and held up signs that read ‘there are no more words’.
Women taking part in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest were also holding shrouded baby dolls to represent the thousands of deaths across Gaza.
Speaking at the meeting, one activist, Abdul Waheed called any such investments ‘immoral’ in the face of actions ‘in breach of international and humanitarian law’.
“We have been failed and lied to by the national Labour Government,” he added.
Image: palestinesolidarityuk on Instagram
The Berkshire Pension Fund is managed by the Royal Borough and administers the Local Government Pension Scheme.
It is responsible for paying the pensions of council employees across Berkshire.
Mr Waheed asked Slough council for an update on the Pension Fund’s Responsible Investment (RI) policy.
The Berkshire Pension Fund panel met last month and discussed the continued development of responsible investments in companies.
A dedicated task group is carrying out a review of the fund’s investment policy, but no outcome has been given yet.
Cllr Wal Chahal, the council’s deputy leader, said: “(The task group) are looking for a responsible investment policy that will ensure that the money that is put into the pension fund is invested in the right ethical places.
“When that has an outcome, we will abide by the outcome and follow it.”
Speaking with the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, Sue Sibany-King, a representative of the Palestine Solidarity campaign, said campaigners have attended Slough Borough Council and Royal Borough meetings for over a year.
She said: “It’s just falling on deaf ears. They just keep pushing it around.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign also attended Berkshire Pension Fund committee meetings to ask leaders to divest pension funds from companies that supply arms or military technology to Israel.
