Invest In Solution, Not Pollution: Activists Tell Princeton U.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, NJ — Students and local activists gathered at Princeton University on Saturday to urge the institution to divest its endowment from fossil fuels.

The message was loud – 'divest from pollution, invest in solution.'

“The fossil fuel industry, the fossil fuel system continues to pollute our world. This climate crisis is disproportionately affecting poor communities and people of color,” said Daniel Ponton, a student at Princeton and organizer at Princeton Mutual Aid.

Ponton said the university had the choice to divest its $26 billion in endowment from fossil fuels.

"They can choose to say no to this system of oppression that is disproportionality affecting the Global South. To them we must collectively say, ‘divest from pollution, invest in solution,’” he said.

The rally, organized by Divest Princeton was the culmination of several days of programming around Earth Day.

The rally began with organizers calling for justice for victims of police shootings and anti-Asian hate across the country. Attendees held up signs and told the university that ‘delay was denial’ when it comes to climate change.

Co-sponsors of the rally were Princeton Environmental Activism Coalition, Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), Princeton Mutual Aid, and Princeton Against Gun Violence.

“Not only is the climate catastrophe happening already, but it is also impacting poor people and people of color disproportionately. This is a justice issue, not just an environmental issue,” said the Rev. Robert Moore, Executive Director of CFPA.

“This university says, ‘Princeton in the nation’s service.’ Well, our country needs Princeton to serve the nation by getting rid of global warming now.”

Organizers invited attendees to email university President Christopher Eisgruber, urging him to take steps towards securing a greener future.

On May 3, the university's Resource Committee is expected to make recommendations in support of divestment at the upcoming Council of the Princeton University Community meeting.

The recommendations will then go to the Board of Trustee's Committee on Finance and then to the full board.

"We want strong commitments and we wanted them yesterday. Not just from these companies but from our leaders as well," said Ryan Warsing, co-ordinator, Divest Princeton.

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