BDS activists hold panel on MN funding of deadly Palantir surveillance

Minneapolis, MN – On August 20, dozens of community members attended a panel titled “How MN Money is Funding Palantir’s Deadly Surveillance Network” at the Lucy Parsons Center. The panel, organized by the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC), discussed divestment from the AI surveillance company Palantir. Palantir facilitates human rights violations against Palestinians, as well as immigrants in Minnesota.

The panelists explained that Palantir arose from U.S. wars on Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s. Palantir’s surveillance technology exists as a tool to direct violence against vulnerable groups. Palantir’s programs parse vast amounts of data on the lives of many people, streamlining the process by which intelligence agencies, militaries and police forces choose who to target. This includes recent U.S. strikes on Venezuela and Iran, and Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

Palantir’s technology also enables federal agents within the U.S. to surveil Americans, especially targeting immigrant communities. During the past winter, Minnesota faced an occupation by thousands of ICE agents who acted violently and killed protesters.

Palantir is also utilized by the Israeli military for rapid mass targeting of Palestinians. “Having a computer program that orders execution amounts to a very thin moral pretext for a conscious act of genocide,” said Joe Yamine, speaking for the AWC.

The Minnesota State Board of Investment currently has $57 million invested in Palantir. Panelists stressed the importance of getting the SBI to divest that money, much of which comes from public worker pensions, as well as taxpayers.

Palantir is now facing significant opposition from many groups across the country, including divestment campaigns. Panelists highlighted the successes of public pressure on politicians, universities and hospitals to cut ties with the company. These successes are a result of community actions, which will continue to gain ground as more groups organize around the cause. Under pressure from anti-war activists in Denver, Palantir recently moved its headquarters to Miami, Florida.

As Kenny Morris from the American Friends Service Committee explained, “Divestment is possible. It’s happened before, and I’m sure it will happen in your state too.”

Speakers included members of the American Friends Service Committee, the Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, and Minnesota 50501.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #Surveillance #Palantir #MNAWC