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Public commenters urge Denver to divest investments tied to Israel and oppose $10M Cisco contract
Summary
Several commenters pressed Denver City Council to divest investments tied to Israel and weapons manufacturers and urged a 'no' vote on an upcoming $10,000,000 advanced network management contract with Cisco, citing alleged company complicity in harms in Gaza and calls for a local humanitarian resolution.
A series of public commenters urged the council to disclose and divest any city investments tied to the state of Israel or to weapons manufacturers, saying municipal funds should instead be redirected to local priorities such as housing, education and health care.
One speaker, who identified herself as an oncology, hospice and palliative care nurse, framed the request as a humanitarian imperative, saying "we must divest" from investments tied to the Israeli government and weapons manufacturers and asserting that some humanitarian aid to Gaza is being blocked.
Riley Sundberg asked the council specifically to oppose a planned $10,000,000 contract to purchase advanced network management equipment from Cisco, saying the company appears on the list of firms commenters believe are complicit in abuses. Sundberg named Cisco, Palantir, Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar and asked the council to consider legislative steps, citing a transcript reference to "HB 16 12 84" and asking that the council sponsor a local resolution (stated in the transcript as "SR 2 24") demanding consistent humanitarian aid into the West Bank and Gaza.
Speakers did not present city staff responses during the public comment period. No formal council action was recorded in the session; speakers urged the council to use its upcoming votes and contract reviews to consider divestment or additional oversight.
