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PERSI offers anti-Sudan investments: Panel lets 401(k) owners protest Darfur genocide
/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
Idaho’s state retirement fund is
taking a small step toward offering its members investments that don’t support genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region, but a coalition of church, human rights and community groups say the state’s large public retirement fund also should drop such investments – a step 20 other states have taken. Alan Winkle, executive director of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho, said PERSI had “very definitely” heard from its members that they wanted a Sudan-free investment option. So PERSI is setting up a new 401(k) plan option for those state and local government workers who have 401(k) accounts in addition to their state retirement pension funds. The new option will be available to members Oct. 12.
Question: Is it important that individuals who are part of the Idaho state retirement fund send a symbolic message like this to thugs in the Sudan Darfur region?