Jan 20 @ 1:30 PM: WA State Supreme Court to hear Olympia Food Co-op Boycott Case

The Right to Boycott

Washington State Supreme Court to Hear

the Olympia Food Co-op Boycott Case (Davis v. Cox)

on January 20, 2015 at 1:30 PM

at the Temple of Justice, Olympia, WA USA

Attorneys for the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) will be in the Washington Supreme Court, defending the right of the Olympia Food Co-op to boycott Israeli goods. The co-op board was sued in 2011 by five of its members for the boycott decision. In 2012, a judge dismissed the suit, Davis v. Cox, under the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, a decision upheld on appeal in 2014. SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) are brought to silence the defendants by burdening them with the costs and stressors of a lawsuit, irrespective of the ultimate merit of the case. Washington State law protects against such infringement on the fundamental rights of free speech. At issue is not just the right of one institution to express its political beliefs and moral conscience through a boycott. The Olympia Food Co-op’s boycott is part of the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a crucial tool in the struggle for Palestinian human rights. The suit in turn is part of a widespread, well-funded effort to silence speech critical of Israel and supportive of Palestinian rights. CCR has long been fighting repression against people who speak out on behalf of Palestinian rights in the United States. They currently also represent Prof. Steven Salaita, who was fired from his tenured job at the University of Illinois following his public criticism on Twitter of Israel’s assault on Gaza last year.

Comprehensive information about the case can be found at the Center for Consitutional Rights (CCR).

WHAT:  Washington State Supreme Court to Hear the Olympia Food Co-op Boycott Case (Davis v. Cox)

WHEN:  Tuesday, January 20th at 1:30 PM. The hearing is expected to last about an hour.

WHERE: Temple of Justice, Olympia, WA USA. The Temple of Justice (where the Supreme Court is located) is on the Washington State Capitol Campus about 100 yards to the north of, and directly facing, the Capitol Dome. The Temple is a white marble building with columns in front. See driving and parking directions.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

• From noon until 1 p.m. (just prior to the hearing) stand along Capitol Way in a show of support for the Olympia Food Co-op and the right to boycott. If you can attend, please RSVP [email protected] or call 360-754-3998 and additional details will be provided.

• Attend the hearing. The hearing is open to the public. Please be seated prior to the 1:30 PM start time. Review the court’s rules of conduct and please remain respectful of the courtroom environment at all times.

• Watch the hearing live online on TVW at 1:30pm Pacific Time.

• Follow updates on Twitter! The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) will be posting real-time updates on Twitter.