Los Angeles activists put Veolia’s complicity with Israel’s human rights violations in the spotlight

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Activists gather outside the transportation committee meeting last Wednesday. (Marvin A. Gluck)

Last week, activists with various Palestine solidarity and BDS groups under the umbrella of the Dump Veolia coalition came together in protest of the city of Los Angeles’ efforts to renew contracts worth $160 million with Veolia, a French multinational urban transportation and systems corporation, for the city’s transportation needs.

Because of its involvement in contracting with Israel to build a light rail system that will connect West Jerusalem with settlement colonies in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, Veolia has been a longtime target of BDS campaigns, especially in Europe and Australia. The corporation has lost billions of dollars worth of contracts as a result of sustained pressure on local councils by boycott activists since 2008.

Dump Veolia — which includes groups such as BDS LA, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Israel Divestment Campaign — stated in a press release (emailed to The Electronic Intifada) that more than 40 activists attended the LA Transportation Committee meeting on Wednesday, 12 September, during the first public hearing over the renewal of contracts with Veolia. more

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