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PORTLAND BDS FLASH MOB LANDS AT
NE NEW SEASONS MAY 29th, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Flash mob targets New Seasons’ ethical image, Israeli products
Media contact: info@pdxbds.org
May 29th, Portland, OR— Shoppers at Portland’s Concordia New Seasons were greeted with an unexpected performance this afternoon when about two dozen Portlanders broke into song and dance. “New Seasons, you say you’re local but you buy into Israeli occupation,” participants sang, referencing the 19 Israeli products New Seasons carries. The flash mob, coordinated by the Portland BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanction) Coalition, was part of an ongoing campaign calling on New Seasons to stop selling Israeli products.
“New Seasons cannot claim to be friendly and local while it continues to stock products made by Israel, a gross violator of international law,” said Wael Elasady, member of Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights and flashmob participant. “There’s a glaring discrepancy between their ethical image and the products they profit from.”
The now-burgeoning BDS Coalition, endorsed by groups such as Jews for Global Justice and the ILWU Local 5, has submitted a petition with over 500 signatures from New Seasons shoppers. The petition asks New Seasons to respect the boycott call issued by Palestinian civil society in 2005, and stop selling Israeli products until Israel complies with international humanitarian and human rights law. Additionally, hundreds of customers have submitted “comment cards” supporting the boycott.
New Seasons has been under recent scrutiny for its decision to remove photographs by Jewish artist Stephen Kerpen. Images of Palestinians and Bedouins from Kerpen’s recent trip to Israel and the West Bank were removed by New Seasons management just hours after being installed in the Seven Corners’ local artists gallery. Kerpen was told that the abrupt reversal came in response to the complaint of a single customer.
“New Seasons immediately removed Stephen’s images after one complaint, yet refuses to address the hundreds of customers who have supported the boycott,” said Elasady. “The store chose to stop selling Rockstar energy drink on ethical grounds, so the precedent for this type of action has been set. It’s time for New Seasons to live up to its image and respect the demands of hundreds of customers.”
The Portland BDS Coalition is part of the growing international movement calling for a boycott of Israel until it complies with international humanitarian and human rights laws. The Palestinian-led BDS movement is a moral, nonviolent campaign for human rights modeled on the worldwide boycott movement that helped to bring an end to apartheid in South Africa.
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3 Comments
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As many of you know the Portland BDS Coalition has been engaged in a campaign to pressure New Seasons Market to heed the call of Palestinian civil society in boycotting Israeli products until the occupation ends, the right of return is honored, and the Palestinian citizens of Israel receive full and equal rights.
The letter urging New Seasons to stop carrying Israeli products has gathered over 600 individual signatures and the endorsement of 9 local organizations. Organizers have handed out over 700 pamphlets in front of New Seasons stores, spoken to hundreds of customers about Israel’s human rights violations, and published several articles/letters in local and national papers educating readers about this effort.
Recent events in the Middle East have made it clear that the people of the region will no longer tolerate US backed dictatorships and are demanding real freedom and democracy for the region. US support for Israeli apartheid is no exception. Building the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement in the US is an important step in ending that support and helping to end our governments involvement in the historical injustices visited on that region.
The Portland BDS Coalition will be redoubling our efforts and escalating our campaign to put more pressure on New Seasons to support international law and human rights by removing their Israeli products but we cannot do this without your support!
Please consider helping our campaign in one or several of the following ways:
- Fill out a comment card when you visit New Seasons, ask them to stop supporting apartheid
- Email New Season’s customer services department at: talktous@newseasonsmarket.com and ask them to stop supporting apartheid
- Volunteer to help at our next informational action in front of a New Seasons store
- Sign the letter to New Seasons (Email us if your organization would like to sign the letter or if you would like us to present more details to your group about this campaign)
- Attend our Portland BDS Coalition meeting this Friday at 6:00 pm at PSU in the Smith Building 2nd Floor and help us plan upcoming actions to put more pressure on New Seasons!
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1 Comment
STOP ART CENSORSHIP. Calling all artists and art lovers!
JOIN US IN PROTESTING @ NEW SEASONS
PLEASE FILL OUT COMMENT CARDS IN SUPPORT OF STEVE’S SHOW
New Seasons Division branch removed the artwork of Jewish photographer Stephen Kerpen from their walls because of a complaint from a shopper. Stephen’s photographs display Bedouins’ and Palestinians’ everyday lives. His captions explain the situation that his participants face each day.
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Ways you can help the BDS movement
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As many of you know the Portland BDS Coalition has been engaged in a campaign to pressure New Seasons Market to heed the call of Palestinian civil society in boycotting Israeli products until the occupation ends, the right of return is honored, and the Palestinian citizens of Israel receive full and equal rights.
The letter urging New Seasons to stop carrying Israeli products has gathered over 600 individual signatures and the endorsement of 9 local organizations. Organizers have handed out over 700 pamphlets in front of New Seasons stores, spoken to hundreds of customers about Israel’s human rights violations, and published several articles/letters in local and national papers educating readers about this effort.
Recent events in the Middle East have made it clear that the people of the region will no longer tolerate US backed dictatorships and are demanding real freedom and democracy for the region. US support for Israeli apartheid is no exception. Building the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement in the US is an important step in ending that support and helping to end our governments involvement in the historical injustices visited on that region.
The Portland BDS Coalition will be redoubling our efforts and escalating our campaign to put more pressure on New Seasons to support international law and human rights by removing their Israeli products but we cannot do this without your support!
Please consider helping our campaign in one or several of the following ways:
- Fill out a comment card when you visit New Seasons, ask them to stop supporting apartheid
- Email New Season’s customer services department, ask them to stop supporting apartheid
- Volunteer to help at our next informational action in front of a New Seasons store
- Sign the letter to New Seasons (Email us if your organization would like to sign the letter or if you would like us to present more details to your group about this campaign)
- Attend our Portland BDS Coalition meeting this Friday at 6:00 pm at PSU in the Smith Building Room 294 and help us plan upcoming actions to put more pressure on New Seasons!
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
