Boston, MA, March 29, 2007 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) testified at the Massachusetts State House in support of a bill that would require targeted divestment from Massachusetts pension holdings from certain companies doing business in Sudan. Today, the ongoing genocide in Darfur is an extraordinary humanitarian crisis where the government in Khartoum has willfully ignored international resolutions and diplomatic efforts to ameliorate the situation. 

A targeted approach to divestment along with intensive diplomatic efforts would deprive the Sudanese government of the resources that would enable it to continue the genocide and would exert significant pressure on the government of Sudan to change its behavior.

New England Regional Board member Lori Gans testified before the Joint Committee on Public Service in support of Senate Bill 1474, An Act Relative to Pension Divestment.

Ms. Gans, who represented the League before the Committee, said: "With witnesses to the Holocaust thankfully still living among us, we are reminded that it is our moral duty to do all that is in our power to stop genocide, wherever it arises, and whoever the targeted people are."

Andrew Tarsy, ADL New England Regional Director, added: "This is an opportunity for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to both take a stand against genocide and play a role in stopping the conflict. We hope the legislature acts favorably on this legislation which has the potential to save lives. We must refuse to be bystanders."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.