MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANADIANS TO PROTEST AT 40+ SCOTIABANK LOCATIONS COAST TO COAST DEMANDING AN END TO ITS WAR PROFITEERING FROM ELBIT SYSTEMS, ISRAEL’S LARGEST WEAPONS MANUFACTURER, AS THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA RAGES ON

Canada — On June 14th, 2025, a coalition of grassroots activists and justice groups will protest 40+ Scotiabank locations from Coast to Coast as part of a National Day of Action targeting Scotiabank’s continued investment in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest privately-owned weapons manufacturer.

In a renewed push against Scotiabank following 19 months of protests by organizers across Canada, National Day of Action organizers, Scotiabank Funds Genocide demands Scotiabank divests fully from Elbit Systems. Scotiabank divested from Elbit Systems in the Fall of 2024 reducing their investment to $111 million (USD) but in Q4 of 2024, they re-invested bringing their investments back to $180 million (USD). It’s now Q2 of 2025 and still Scotiabank refuses to fully divest holding $268 million worth of shares in the Israeli defence contractor making them one of the top 5 investors globally.

On the heels of the success of No Arms in the Arts which led the campaign to have Scotiabank dropped as a lead sponsor of the prestigious Giller Prize, activists are mobilizing again in response to what they describe as a “clear attempt to profit off shifting political winds and the public’s short memory.”

“This isn’t business as usual—it’s profit from war crimes,” said Tamer Abu-Ramadan, spokesperson for the campaign. “We refuse to let Scotiabank quietly reinvest and remain invested in Elbit Systems without consequence. Their role in arming Israel, currently accused of genocide must be exposed and opposed at every level.”

International humanitarian organizations including Amnesty International have determined Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute a genocide. Over 60,000 civilians have been killed, half of whom are children. After 19 months of genocide, forced starvation, and ethnic cleansing, Scotiabank must divest from Elbit Systems completely.

Organizers are calling on all those committed to justice and demilitarization to join the campaign and demand accountability from one of Canada’s largest financial institutions.

For more information, media inquiries, or to schedule interviews with campaign organizers, contact the campaign directly at sbfundsgeno@gmail.com.

Follow the campaign online at sbi funds genocide.ca, or on Instagram, X, and Bluesky.