The head of the Holy Land Principles organization demanded in a press release today that Cisco publicly dissociate itself from activist Julie Hammerman’s, accusing her of lying about the group. McManus charges that activist’s lies destroy responsible investment
When a corporate entity bills itself as a Socially Responsible Investment organization or firm, yet testifies to a tissue of lies at an Annual Shareholders Meeting, it commits a serious and fatal breach of trust… Like a police officer deliberately lying under oath in court. It’s a dagger at the very heart, a stab in the back, and the ultimate betrayal of the very essence of Responsible Investment: “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.”(WB Yeats).
That is how the Holy Land Principles, Inc. is assessing the blatant lies told by Julie Hammerman at the recent Cisco Annual Shareholders Meeting on November 19, in San Jose, CA. Ms. Hammerman — who spoke from the floor of the meeting, and introduced herself as working for a Socially Responsible Investment organization— is the Executive Director of JLens based in San Francisco. She launched an extraordinarily mendacious attack on the Holy Land Principles resolution that was presented at the meeting.
Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Holy Land Principles, Inc. and the Irish National Caucus, said: “At almost 72 years of age, I am not too easily shocked, but I was certainly shocked by the blatant and unashamed lies of Ms. Hammerman. And I’m sure the assembly and the Internet audience were shocked as well. She brought great discredit on herself. Who wants to accept investment guidance from a person who is prepared to tell such lies?”
Fr. Mc Manus explained: “My colleague Barbara Flaherty had just presented the Resolution, explaining eloquently and precisely that the Holy Land Principles are: ‘pro-Jewish, pro-Palestinians and pro-Company. The Principles do not call for quotas, reverse discrimination, divestment, disinvestment or boycotts. The Principles do not try to tell the Palestinians or the Israelis what to do. The Holy Land Principles only call for fair employment by American companies in Israel-Palestine.’”
In response, Ms. Hammerman blatantly and absurdly charged that the Holy Land Principles were anti-Israel and that the Principles called for boycotts of, and disinvestment from Israel. How could anyone do that? How could she think she was serving Socially Responsible Investment by self-evident falsehoods? How could she think she get away with insulting the intelligence and decency of the Cisco investors?”
Fr. Mc Manus continued: “Some believe Ms. Hammerman was deliberately planted in the audience for the purpose of making her mendacious tirade. If so, it is incumbent on Cisco to make it clear that Cisco did not plant her, and that Cisco disassociates itself from her outrageous lies. Why would Cisco want or need to hide behind Hammerman’s venomous assault? Surely it’s in Cisco’s interest to make clear that Hammerman was not reflecting Cisco’s values, which Cisco describes as: ‘A commitment to ethical conduct—and to the governance structures that ensure we walk the talk—provides the foundation for us to earn our stakeholders’ trust.’ ”
Fr. Mc Manus concluded: “Furthermore, I call on JLens to also disassociate itself from Ms. Hammerman’s hateful and shameful words. JLens cannot present itself as a Socially Responsible Investment group if it condones such irresponsible disregard for the truth, and disdain for fair employment.”
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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