We are calling on the organisers of Norwich Pride to drop Aviva as their sponsor.

WHY?

Aviva is Britain's largest general insurer and major life and pensions provider.

Whilst the Norwich branch has been hailed as a safe employer & keen supporter of Norwich pride, the wider actions of its parent company undermines any well doing made at home. Being the face of Pride but not upholding the values queer people have fought for around the globe is pinkwashing, undermining the values of Pride. None of us are free until we are all free.

Aviva holds shares in companies that have links to Israel, whilst Aviva has publicly stated in their Investors Baseline Exclusions Policy that they don’t invest in “controversial weapons” there is evidence to show that they’re publicly investing in companies which provide technology used in the ongoing destruction of Palestine. This contradicts their own public statement; even if they are not investing directly, a share of their investments still go towards weapons manufacture. Their shareholdings in the brutal Zionist campaign are valued at £801 million.

WHO IS AVIVA INVESTING IN?

"JP Morgan are significant investors in Israel's biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems - a company which is the primary target of Palestine Action's direct action campaign. Elbit manufactures 85% of Israel's military drone fleet and land based equipment, as well as munitions, bullets, and missiles. Bezhalel Machlis, CEO of the Israeli weapons maker, publicly states the company has "ramped up production" to arm the ongoing Gaza genocide."

From Bella Caledonia's June 2024 Article "Palestine Action target JP Morgan in Edinburgh over Elbit investment"

"'Wells Fargo was part of a $500m loan deal with a consortium of lenders, into Elbit Systems Ltd, the Israeli weapons manufacturer.'

https://boycott.thewitness.news/target/wellsfargo

"Unilever's substantial investments in Israel, exceeding £240 million ($290 million) over the last decade, contribute to the economic sustenance of the Israeli occupation and the expansion of illegal settlements, perpetuating the oppression of Palestinian communities."

- From Kawn.orgs "Unilever's Complicity: A Call to Boycott for Palestine"

Barclays now invests over £100million in General Dynamics, which provides gun systems for the fighter jets used by Israel to bomb the Gaza Strip. It also invests £2.7mn in Elbit Systems, more than doubling its holding since our previous research. Elbit Systems supplies the Israeli military with armoured drones, munitions and artillery weapons used in its attacks on Palestinians.

- From Palestinian Solidarity Campaign's May 2024 Report "Barclays: Arming Israel's Apartheid and Genocide"

There is no Pride in genocide. The violent occupation of Palestinian land and the annihilation of her people must be stopped. This genocidal campaign cannot be done in our names. Stop the pinkwashing. Intersectional liberation now.