Activism PulseWednesday, April 8, 2026

Washington divests Caterpillar; Olympia blocks apartheid-linked investment

The big picture: Power reacts when pressure lands on the paperwork. In the last day, three moves targeted money, infrastructure, and lease decisions, not vibes.

1. Washington Treasurer pulls $62M in Caterpillar bonds

Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti divested $62M in Caterpillar bonds. Olympia’s City Council voted March 24 for an ethics policy excluding investments tied to apartheid and illegal occupation.

Why it matters: This is accountability with spreadsheets attached. It raises the cost of business for corporations that profit from state-backed violence, while giving local governments a ready-to-copy standard for investment choices.

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Olympia voted March 24 to exclude apartheid-linked investment.
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Pellicciotti divested $62M in Caterpillar bonds.
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The campaign anchored the demand in Rachel Corrie’s Gaza killing by a Caterpillar bulldozer.
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Two decisions shifted pressure from protest to portfolio lines.

What to watch: Monday, Mar 24: Olympia ethics policy rollout. Next Treasurer portfolio reporting cycle after the $62M sale.

2. Trump threatens Iran infrastructure strikes with Tuesday deadline

Trump posted a Tuesday ultimatum on Truth Social, naming “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day.” The March 26 ten-day deadline expires Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, as international law experts warn targeting civilian infrastructure is a war crime risk.

Why it matters: This is a target schedule, not mere posturing. Tight deadlines create a short window for legal pressure, media scrutiny, and public coordination before violence becomes treated as routine.

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Trump’s post named “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day” for Tuesday.
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The threat follows a March 26 deadline ending Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
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International law experts warned the threats implicate Geneva violations.
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The focus includes civilian systems like power, bridges, and desalination infrastructure.

What to watch: Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET: the deadline in the ultimatum. The next 24 hours of legal letters and public documentation around civilian-target risks.

3. Brooklyn activists disrupt Easy Aerial lease meeting

On Feb. 11, Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard (DBNY) supporters occupied the lobby of Navy Yard Building 77. They met a closed-door BNYDC meeting about leasing Easy Aerial, an AI drone company tied to DHS and Israel’s military.

Why it matters: A lease negotiation got forced out of the dark and into the room. When the system’s “quiet decision” is made public, it raises reputational and political costs before the technology is normalized.

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DBNY occupied Easy Aerial’s building lobby during the lease process.
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The action confronted BNYDC’s closed-door decision window.
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The campaign highlighted Easy Aerial ties to DHS and the Israeli military.
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Noisemakers, chants, and speeches turned the moment into public pressure.

What to watch: Feb. 11: watch for any follow-on BNYDC steps tied to the Easy Aerial lease decision. Track the next public lease-renewal notice connected to Easy Aerial.

1. Washington Treasurer pulls $62M in Caterpillar bonds

Olympia voted March 24 to exclude apartheid-linked investment.

Pellicciotti divested $62M in Caterpillar bonds.

The campaign anchored the demand in Rachel Corrie’s Gaza killing by a Caterpillar bulldozer.

Two decisions shifted pressure from protest to portfolio lines.

What to watch: Monday, Mar 24: Olympia ethics policy rollout. Next Treasurer portfolio reporting cycle after the $62M sale.

2. Trump threatens Iran infrastructure strikes with Tuesday deadline

Trump’s post named “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day” for Tuesday.

The threat follows a March 26 deadline ending Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

International law experts warned the threats implicate Geneva violations.

The focus includes civilian systems like power, bridges, and desalination infrastructure.

What to watch: Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET: the deadline in the ultimatum. The next 24 hours of legal letters and public documentation around civilian-target risks.

3. Brooklyn activists disrupt Easy Aerial lease meeting

DBNY occupied Easy Aerial’s building lobby during the lease process.

The action confronted BNYDC’s closed-door decision window.

The campaign highlighted Easy Aerial ties to DHS and the Israeli military.

Noisemakers, chants, and speeches turned the moment into public pressure.

What to watch: Feb. 11: watch for any follow-on BNYDC steps tied to the Easy Aerial lease decision. Track the next public lease-renewal notice connected to Easy Aerial.