MN BBC Claims Sec’y of State Steve Simon has conflict of interest, must recuse himself

February 22, 2015 Elisabeth

The new Secretary of State, Steve Simon, is also a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Minnesota and the Dakotas. While active in this position, the JCRC has actively promoted the sale of Israel Bonds and worked against the efforts of MN BBC. The following letter was sent to the Secretary of State claiming that he has a conflict of interest and should recuse himself from decisions regarding the State’s purchase or renewal of Israel Bonds:

Ltr-Conflict-Simon-Short Version 201502

Divest for Justice in Palestine!

We are Palestinians, Americans, Jews, Christians, Muslims, students, professionals, parents, community members and allies working together to bring Palestine-centric education to Minnesota in order to promote justice and human rights.

We believe:

We, the people of Minnesota, have the moral obligation to make sound investments that will not aid the oppression of any one race, creed or people. Minnesota’s investment in Israel supports an apartheid system in both Israel and the Occupied Territories that causes thousands of civilian deaths, many of whom are children, and which involves the widespread abuse of human rights. This system defies a ruling by the International Court of Justice as well as more than 65 UN Resolutions, and violates the Fourth Geneva Convention. We demand that the state of Minnesota act on its good conscience and support the breaking of economic ties with the apartheid state of Israel.

We say, Minnesota divest from Israel Bonds, Divest for Justice in Palestine!

Contact the MN Break the Bonds Campaign

The Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your financial support!
<div style="
  overflow: auto;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  
  align-items: center;
  width: 150px;
  background: #FFFFFF;
  border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
  box-shadow: -1px -1px -1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
  border-radius: 10px;
  font-family: Libre Franklin, SQ Market, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
  ">
   <div style="padding: 10px;">
  <a target="_blank" href="https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLM4N0KBN0AME/checkout/XWCON65P4MTZGNDQB6AN5TNG?src=embed" style="
    display: inline-block;
    font-size: 18px;
    line-height: 48px;
    height: 48px;
    color: #ffffff;
    min-width: 130px;
    background-color: #1bc43d;
    text-align: center;
    box-shadow: 0 0 5 px rgba(0,0,0,.1) inset;
    border-radius: 6px;
  ">Donate</a>
  </div>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Libre Franklin">
</div>
&nbsp
Checks can also be made out to:
"MN Break the Bonds"
And sent to:
P.O. Box 40414
St. Paul, MN. 55104