Tag: racial justice
An Illusion of Social Justice: The Problem with Corporate Philanthropy
May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, US companies pledged a whopping $200 billion to advance racial equity. In spite of scandals and poor track records, major corporations committed to be a force for social change and to fight racism. Four years later, we’re left to wonder where all that […]
Forever Chemicals: A Legacy of Environmental Racism
January 18, 2024Welcome to Advocacy Matters, a monthly column where IASJ staff members will be publishing opinion pieces about current events, human rights, environmental issues, and corporate controversies. At IASJ, we believe that, in the pursuit of social justice, advocacy matters. Advocates champion the cause of human rights and equitable economies for all. In this new monthly […]
Black History Month 2022
February 24, 2022Racism is not just a social justice issue; historically, it has also cast a long economic shadow. Following the Civil War, the Reconstruction Act of 1865 helped transition newly freed Black Americans from enslavement into members of the United States economic system. The Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company was established for formerly enslaved Black American […]
Facing Investor Pressure, Microsoft Agrees to Publish Independent Human Rights Impact Assessment, Including Review of Surveillance and Law Enforcement Contracts
October 13, 2021October 13, 2021 PR Originally posted by Open MIC | Bloomberg Article COMPANY’S ACTION FOLLOWS SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL FOR THIRD-PARTY REVIEW OF POTENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS HARMS In response to shareholder requests, Microsoft Corp. will commission an independent, third-party assessment to “identify, understand, assess, and address actual or potential adverse human rights impacts” of the company’s products, […]
Shareholders Say Microsoft’s Business Practices are Undermining Privacy, Perpetuating Racism and Threatening Human Rights
June 17, 2021Investors have filed three shareholder proposals with Microsoft Corp. seeking accountability for the ways in which the company’s lobbying practices, surveillance technologies, and contracts with ICE and other government agencies contradict the company’s own statements and values around racial justice and human rights. The shareholder proposals highlight an apparent gap between Microsoft’s stated principles and […]
IASJ Mission-Aligned Investing (MAI) Program Launch
March 9, 2021March 9, 2021: Montclair, NJ – Recognizing Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ) Affiliates’ legacy around fostering positive social and environmental impact, IASJ convened its first Affiliate Cohort meeting on March 9th to launch the Mission-Aligned Investing (MAI) program. The program aims to enable and empower IASJ’s Affiliates, which are faith-based institutional asset owners, to […]
In Solidarity with Democracy, Equity & Justice
January 7, 2021January 7, 2021 Yesterday’s violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump insurgents attempting to undermine the results of the 2020 election was disturbing and deeply sad. In a culmination of the denial of the election outcome, damaging and false rhetoric, these attacks on the democratic process by white supremacists were enabled or incited by […]
IASJ Stands in Solidarity With Racial Justice Protests
June 3, 2020In light of recent racist incidents including the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McCade, and George Floyd, Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ) stands in solidarity with the ongoing protests, and is committed to take action on racial justice. As representatives of investors, IASJ recognizes and acknowledges that our country’s economy is rooted in structural […]
“A Win for Shareholders in Effort to Halt Sales of Amazon’s Racially Biased Surveillance Tech” – Press Release by Open MIC
April 4, 2019S.E.C. Ruling Advances Two Shareholder Proposals Targeting Amazon’s Rekognition Link to original Open MIC press release: https://www.openmic.org/news/2019/4/4/a-win-for-shareholders-amazon In a major victory for investors, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled late yesterday that Amazon must give shareholders an opportunity to consider and vote on two separate shareholder resolutions that address major business risks posed by […]
Shareholder Resolution Filed with Amazon on Prohibiting Sales of Facial Recognition to Government, Citing Human Rights Risks
January 17, 2019SHAREHOLDERS PRESS AMAZON TO STOP SELLING RACIALLY BIASED SURVEILLANCE TECH TO GOVERNMENT Press release written by Open MIC. Link to original posting: https://www.openmic.org/news/2019/1/16/halt-rekognition Citing critical concerns over immigrant surveillance of vulnerable communities, racial profiling, and other civil and human rights violations, Amazon shareholders have filed a resolution asking the company to prohibit sales of “Rekognition”, […]
