Medford City Council President Zac Bears—a proud member and past candidate endorsed by Our Revolution Medford (ORM)—recently sponsored and advanced a sweeping divestment ordinance aimed at re-aligning the city’s investments with its values.

In a strong 5–1 vote, the Council moved to bar public funds from being invested in weapons manufacturers, fossil fuel companies, private prisons, and entities complicit in human rights violations.

This ordinance positions Medford as the first city in Massachusetts—and only the third in the nation—to enact such comprehensive values-based divestment. Bears emphasized the broader significance, noting this action is more than symbolic—it’s a local response to urgent global humanitarian crises, including in Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond.

For ORM, this milestone underscores the power of grassroots organizing to not only shape local leadership but also drive bold policy change in alignment with community ethics.