UFPJ enthusiastically joined the Divest from the War Machine Coalition, a massive initiative to reel in the U.S. war machine by demanding that our institutions, local governments, faith communities and others divest their money from weapons companies and those who support them. In municipalities, on university campuses, and in individual investment consultations around the country, campaigns to Divest from the War Machine are demanding that we stop making a killing on killing.
To support this work, CODEPINK and As You Sow have released Weapon Free Funds, a searchable fund database that will help us cut our ties to militarism and gun violence.
Weapon Free Funds covers thousands of the most commonly-owned mutual funds from major asset managers like Vanguard, Fidelity and BlackRock. The tool will allow investors to find out if their mutual fund investments are being used to finance makers of military weapons and civilian firearms, and to find alternative, socially-responsible options that avoid the war economy. Investors can easily see how their investments support:
- Major military contractors,
- Cluster munitions (banned in 100+ countries),
- Nuclear weapons,
- Civilian firearm manufacturers & retailers
Employer-offered 401(k)s or personal mutual fund portfolios are likely to be invested in weapons manufacturers, including large defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, and gun companies such as American Outdoor Brands—the company that makes the assault rifle that was used in the Parkland, Florida school shooting.
Whether setting out to divest your personal portfolio, or engaging in research about where your municipality, pension fund, or institution is invested, Weapon Free Funds will be an invaluable support in divesting from weapons of war and investing in life-affirming solutions.
Divesting from the war machine is one of the most effective ways for investors, communities, and individuals to align our values with our actions, and take responsibility for the resources we control. Our tax dollars, personal investments, and pension funds should demonstrate our national priorities — and we need to be investing in things like education and infrastructure, not guns and bombs.
UFPJ, CODEPINK, As You Sow, and the rest of the Divest coalition partners are excited to help you learn how to use Weapon Free Funds to demand an end to a culture which profits from killing, oppressing, and violating the rights of others. If you’re interested in starting a divestment campaign in your community, you can reach out to divest (at)codepink.org to learn more and receive support.
