Northampton City Council faces lawsuit over unanimous divestment resolution

NORTHAMPTON — March 31, 2026 — Northampton residents urge city council to defend divestment resolution against federal lawsuit. The Northampton City Council convened Tuesday, March 31, with all nine members present but took no votes, devoting its recorded session entirely to public comment. Four speakers called on the council to instruct the city solicitor to vigorously oppose a lawsuit filed by the National Jewish Advocacy Center seeking to invalidate a unanimous prior-term council resolution requiring divestment from companies described as complicit in human rights violations related to Israel and Palestine. Ward 4 resident Matt Spurlock warned the suit "is really the canary in the coal mine in terms of our ability to enact local democracy," and multiple speakers noted the same organization had pursued litigation against Harvard University. Deborah Yaffe of South Deerfield said the divestment list was developed in collaboration with the American Friends Service Committee and "meets strict criteria listing only companies that are gross violators of human rights abuses and international law." A fifth commenter, Ward 5 parent Laura Carney Ernie, offered separate remarks thanking the council and Northampton Public Schools staff for engaging with community concerns about phone policy and educational technology.