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Resolution reversal followed condemnation by state’s Democratic governor

Israel is no longer targeted with a boycott and divestment resolution by the City University of New York system’s union.

The Professional Staff Congress rescinded its resolution in support of “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions,” just one month after it first passed.

“Moments ago, after massive pressure, public backlash, legal action by S.A.F.E. Campus, and dozens of resignations from Jewish and other members of the union, the PSC-CUNY (@psc_cuny) voted to rescind January’s vote to adopt BDS as policy and to divest its investment funds from Israel,” SAFE Campus wrote on X last night. The group advocates for Jewish students, faculty, and staff at the public university system.

The January resolution “told its pension system that it supports ‘complete disinvestment from Israel,’” according to previous reporting from the New York Post.

The resolution would also lead to the union divesting “from any investment vehicle that includes in its portfolio stocks and bonds of Israeli companies and Israeli government bonds no later than the end of January 2026,” as the NY Post reported.

The original resolution passed by a 73-70 vote, according to a news release SAFE Campus sent The College Fix.

Major Breaking News at CUNY:

CUNY’s Faculty Union Votes to Rescind its Just-Adopted BDS Policy

Moments ago, after massive pressure, public backlash, legal action by S.A.F.E. Campus, and dozens of resignations from Jewish and other members of the union, the PSC-CUNY (@psc_cuny)…

— SAFE CAMPUS (@_SAFECAMPUS) February 21, 2025

But last night the PSC voted down the resolution 113-to 62.

Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and CUNY leadership criticized the original resolution.

“In my first week as governor, I signed an executive order to divest public funds from institutions that participate in the harmful BDS movement — and that order remains in effect,” Hochul told the Times of Israel. “I strongly oppose the resolution narrowly passed by the PSC-CUNY delegates and will continue standing up against antisemitism and hate in all forms.”

“Our university has consistently denounced BDS activity and we condemn the resolution passed by Professional Staff Congress delegates calling on the union to divest,” CUNY told the same outlet. “The PSC-CUNY organization does not speak for the university and this vote does not reflect the university’s position or our values. CUNY will not participate in any form of BDS activity.”

Jeffrey Lax, leader of SAFE CAMPUS and a CUNY professor, told The Fix after publication:

I am thrilled that the union –solely for its own survival—rescinded its hateful, illegal, and antisemitic resolution and I am hopeful that this is a trend that catches on nationally. But it is important to keep in mind that this changes nothing about the PSC and its hateful, antisemitic existence. The union still brandishes a separate antisemitic pro-BDS resolution from 2021 on its books, its President, James Davis is still a proud BDS activist who boasts about voting for it at the America Studies Association; and the PSC is still the same one found liable by the EEOC for discriminating against Zionist and Orthodox Jews and purposefully holding events on Friday nights so that they could not attend. This is a good start, but the right thing was done by bad people and for the wrong reasons. We have a long way to go to reform this union and make it tolerant one for Jewish and all people.

The CUNY system has previously faced criticism for antisemitism. A 146-page report last year, written by a former judge, said the system’s antisemitism policies need to be “significantly overhauled.” Gov. Hochul had requested the report.

As The Fix previously reported, recommendations included the creation of a centralized center for antisemitism and hate, improvement of the complaint portal, establishment of a victim’s advocate position, coordination of safety protocols with law enforcement, diversity training, and an encouragement that leadership denounce hate.

SAFE Campus released its own report in 2023 highlighting antisemitism problems on campus.

A CUNY law school speaker in May 2023 also faced criticism for her comments about Israel.

“The law is a manifestation of white supremacy,” Fatima Mohammed told the crowd.

Mohammed also used the speech to criticize the university for listening to “investors” when it came to the issue of Israel and “Zionism.”

The law “continues” to “oppress” and “suppress” people in America and “around the world,” the daughter of Yemeni immigrants said.

Mohammed, addressing her fellow grads, said they “joined this institution” to learn how to fight against the “facade of legal neutrality” and to support activists and organizers in fighting against the “systems of oppression.”

She ended her speech by saying that other “empires of destruction” had also “fallen.”

Editor’s note: The article has been updated with a quote from Jeffrey Lax.

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