On March 5th at 2:30 pm
pack the Ramsey County Courthouse to
tell Judge Marrinan “No Material Support for Oppression”!
In an attempt to dodge our arguments that Minnesota’s investments in Israel Bonds violate state and international law, the State Board of Investment (SBI) filed a motion to dismiss our complaint based on an alleged lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. This motion will be heard on March 5, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at the Ramsey County Courthouse (Click here http://bit.ly/Aa8f3A for directions). We need to pack the courtroom so that Judge Marrinan can see the level of support we have in stoppingMinnesota from continuing to fund apartheid!
At the hearing, the judge will listen to the SBI’s Motion to Dismiss in favor of dismissing the case from the Minnesota Attorney General’s (AG) Office which is representing the SBI. Lawyers representing the Plaintiff (MN BBC and all of the co-plaintiffs) who are asking the court to order the SBI to divest from Israel Bonds will also present our Opposition to the SBI’s Motion to Dismiss. In addition, the judge will listen to the Plaintiff’s lawyers argue a “Summary Judgment Motion” regarding why she can and should rule in our favor immediately on Count One of our Complaint. Count One states that Minnesota’s investments in Israel Bonds are illegal under current Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 11A and Chapter 356A. The AG’s Office will then provide their counter-arguments to our Summary Judgment Motion (SBI’s Response to Summary Judgment Motion Part 1 and Part 2. The audience can of course be present in the courtroom during the duration of the whole hearing, but please note that proper court decorum is in order. This is not a rally.
Once the arguments are completed the court will decide whether to permit the case to go forward (i.e. not side with the SBI that the case ought to be dismissed), and the judge has ninety days to issue a ruling. If she chooses to also rule on our Summary Judgment Motion, which she does not have to, she could decide Israel Bonds are in fact an illegal investment and demand that the state divest immediately! However, given that the case involves a public official making a decision regarding Israel/Palestine, it is highly likely that the case will ultimately be decided in the appellate court. Throughout this process we invite you join us in recalling this wise observation from Nelson Mandela:“It always seems impossible – until it’s done.”
Note: All of the linked legal documents can be read before the hearing to give you a greater understanding of the oral arguments that will be presented in the courtroom, if you are so inclined.
Opposition to the SBI’s Motion to Dismiss
SBI’s response to MN BBC’s Opposition to its Motion to Dismiss
SBI’s Response to Summary Judgement Motion Part 1 and Part 2
MN BBC’s Response to SBI’s Opposition to our Summary Judgment Motion
Photo Credit: http://www.aztlan.net/intapart.htm