PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Jewish Voice for Peace held a rally at Providence City Hall on June 29 in support of the City Council’s ordinance to end investment in Israel. The ordinance would divest city funds from Israel sovereign bonds and prevent future investments in governments accused of war crimes and human rights violations. JVP said the ordinance has been endorsed by several community organizations and local businesses, including Working Families Power – Rhode Island, Reclaim Rhode Island, R.I. Democratic Socialists of America, Providence Youth and Student Movement, and Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance. It added that over 150 people attended the rally. Ordinance co-sponsor Miguel Sanchez and Rabbi Lex Rofeberg both spoke at the rally. “There’s some people in this city that have had the gall to claim that this group of people, including so many Jews like myself, are being antisemites by speaking our own Jewish values,” Rofeberg said. “I’m not here for it.” “Israel bonds” are direct loans to the Israeli treasury, providing unrestricted funding going towards general operating funds for the Israeli military and government. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said he would veto the ordinance if it passed. Rhode Island Coalition for Israel held a counter-demonstration which included an electronic billboard. Categories: News, Politics, Providence