DENVER-
The Senate on Monday approved a bill that would require state divestment of companies that do business in the Sudan.
The bill (House Bill 1184) passed on a vote of 33-1. It now goes back to the House for consideration of amendments.
The lone vote against the measure was cast by Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, who called the measure nothing more than a “social litmus test.”
Supporters said genocide rages on in the Darfur region of Africa’s largest country, Sudan, where critics say the government has attempted to eliminate its non-Arab population. To date, over 200,000 have been killed and over 2 million have been displaced.
“Lets do the right thing. Lets wash the blood off our hands. Lets take our money out,” said Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver.
If approved, Colorado would become the eighth state to divest from Sudan. Eighteen other states are currently considering similar measures.
