SHARE Community members gathered to protest Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ participation in the dedication ceremony of the Bennett Building, named after the late senator, Scott Bennet. Frerichs has invested over $115 million of taxpayer money into Israel Bonds since 2023, even as credit ratings drop.
Champaign-Urbana, IL – Community members gathered outside the Bennett Building on Wednesday to protest Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, who was scheduled to speak. Frerichs has invested over $115 million of taxpayer money into Israel Bonds since 2023, with $15 million renewed earlier this year.
Israel faces international condemnation for war crimes, human rights abuses, and growing instability. Israel’s credit ratings are consistently falling. Investing in these bonds props up military occupation and apartheid while putting our pensions at financial and moral risk.
Protesters spoke to city officials and event organizers, demanding Michael Frerichs’ removal from the event. Karen Medina, community member and friend of Champaign-Urbana Muslim Action Committee (CU MAC) and Urbana-Champaign Jews for Ceasefire, explains: “If Frerichs speaks, we speak. If he shows up but doesn’t speak, we’ll show up and not speak, and if he doesn’t show, we put down our signs.”
Ultimately, the protest was successful and an agreement was reached. Michael Frerichs did not speak at the ceremony, proving yet again that Champaign-Urbana will not welcome genocide supporters in our town. Jessica Yasin, member of CU MAC said, “Today felt like a win because we came as constituents, as taxpayers, we spoke, and we said we don’t want Michael Frerichs speaking in our town and we are happy that our city officials listened and did not allow him to speak.”
Our Champaign-Urbana community is united in standing against genocide — the recent Urbana referendum in which 70% of voters approved of ending U.S. military funding to Israel is evidence of that. Today’s event is an indication of that as well. “People from a variety of faiths, including Muslims, Mennonites, Jews, and Unitarian Universalists, came together to show that we won’t stand for genocide. We won’t let people who make us complicit in genocide be comfortable in our town,” says CU MAC member, Sana Saboowala.
To learn more about Israel Bonds, Michael Frerichs’ involvement, and where your Illinois tax dollars are going, visit CUbreakthebonds.com.