BDS – Get Involved!

MEmbers of the Olympia Food Co-op celebrate its decision to boycott Israeli products. Photo by: Justin Mauger

There are a number of ongoing BDS campaigns nationwide in which supporters of equal rights for Palestinians can become involved. Locally, the Rachel Corrie Foundation actively defends and supports the gains of the Olympia Food Co-op, which in 2010 became the first grocery store in the U.S. to implement a full boycott of Israeli products. We also support the boycott of and divestment from Caterpillar Inc., and efforts by religious communities like the United Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to boycott and divest from Caterpillar Inc. and other companies profiting from the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. RCF is also committed to fighting against anti-BDS legislation in the United States, which are measures to squelch free speech and advocacy for Palestinian equal rights.

Local Campaigns

Olympia Food Co-op Boycott: Since 2010, RCF has offered material and moral support for the Olympia Food Co-op and its boycott of Israeli products. While we recently celebrated the boycott’s sixth anniversary, there is also a pending lawsuit against sixteen current and former members of the Co-op’s board of directors over their decision to implement the boycott. A history of the case has been compiled by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and is available here. Make sure you are signed up to the RCF mailing list to receive information on upcoming actions to support the Co-op’s boycott and how you can help!

RCF’s Boycott Committee: The Rachel Corrie Foundation holds monthly meetings of our community BDS committee to develop and further our work around BDS locally, nationally, and internationally. The committee is open to all community members who are dedicated to the tactics of BDS as a means for achieving equal rights for Palestinians. To learn more about the committee, including about how you can join and attend our meetings, email our office for more information.

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at The Evergreen State College: The history of Palestine solidarity work on campus at The Evergreen State College, Rachel Corrie’s alma mater, is long and fruitful. Most recently, students have passed divestment resolutions demanding the prohibition of Caterpillar Inc. equipment on campus and a measure to de-shelve both Sabra Hummus and Driscoll’s Berries. For more information on how to join the student group, or how you can support their work in our community, email our office for more information.

National Campaigns

Protect Your Right to Boycott: Across the country, anti-BDS legislation is being introduced by lawmakers as an attempt to silence free speech and direct non-violent political action for Palestinian equal rights. This resource, compiled by Palestine Legal, allows you to view each piece of legislation by state and offers resources to fight back for your right to boycott.

Airbnb Stolen Homes Campaign: There are 13,000 Airbnb listings in Israel, and many of those are located in illegal Israeli settlements that are built on stolen Palestinian land.

Hewlett-Packard (HP): Hewlett-Packard provides biometric technology used at Israeli checkpoints for monitoring Palestinians and denying their freedom of movement. HP is also working with the Israeli government to develop an identification system for Israeli citizens that categorizes people based on their ethnicity. The company also works directly with the Israeli military to provide technology and equipment that is used to streamline the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Stop the Jewish National Fund: Since 1901, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) has been instrumental in the continued ethnic cleansing and land appropriation within historic Palestine. The JNF explicitly states that the land which it administers is only available for purchase or lease by Jewish residents and that “the JNF…does not have a duty to practice equality towards all citizens of the state.”