DETROIT — On Friday, June 20 the Presbyterian Church U.S.A passed a resolution to divest from companies that do business with Israel. The group’s General Assembly voted 310-303 to pass the measure.

The vote comes after a demonstration was held outside Cobo Hall Wednesday, June 18 encouraging Presbyterian Church U.S.A to divest from the companies. Several participants at the rally said they believe the move shows the Palestinian cause is gaining momentum in other communities.

Presbyterian Church U.S.A is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country. 

Local and national leaders in the Jewish community are concerned that the group’s decision could pave the way for other Christian denominations to pursue similar measures and create a domino effect.  The Anti-Defamation League said the resolution was “out of step with the views of the majority of Presbyterians in the pews” and sends a painful message to American Jews.

The resolution calls for the Presbyterian Church to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard and Motorola Solutions due to their business dealings with Israel in the West Bank.