Public commenters urge UC Regents to divest from weapons firms, criticize campus responses to Gaza protests

Dozens of public commenters told the University of California Board of Regents’ Investments Committee on March 14 that the university should divest from companies tied to weapons manufacturing and criticized campus administrations for their responses to student protests over Gaza.

The comments came during the committee’s public-comment period, which the secretary said had more than 30 registered speakers. Peter, a resident and public commenter, denounced U.S. weapons makers and accused the Regents of siding with administration crackdowns rather than student protesters: “Israel is committing a genocide livestream before the eyes of the world,” he said, and added that companies “you invest in are making those 2,000 pound bombs… and making millions and millions of dollars.”

Several other speakers repeated calls for divestment from companies they named, including Boeing, Northrop, Raytheon and Lockheed, and urged Regents to engage directly with protesters outside the meeting. A representative who identified themselves as part of a delegation said about 300 people were gathered outside and said they would remain until Regents “come outside and engage with the public.”

Speakers also connected divestment demands to campus policing and student arrests, saying leadership had enabled or failed to prevent violent responses to demonstrations. Former donors and alumni said they were withdrawing financial support in protest, and at least one speaker urged the Regents to “choose your students and workers over shameful profits and politics.”

No formal action or motion on divestment was made during the Investments Committee meeting. Committee leaders acknowledged the public comments at the meeting’s close and said they were noted for further consideration.