Archbishop Desmond Tutu Endorses Olympia Food Co-op’s Boycott of Israeli Goods
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The Archbishop endorsed the boycott with the following statement: “I, Desmond Tutu, fully support and endorse the Olympia Food Co-op’s boycott of Israeli products. The Olympia Food Co-op has joined a growing worldwide movement on the part of citizens and the private sector to support by non-violent tangible acts the Palestinian struggle for justice and self-determination. Cooperatives have a long history of working for and with the oppressed to strive for a better world, and now Olympia Food Coop has been the first to build off of that legacy in support of freedom for Palestinians. I encourage other cooperatives, grocers, and businesses to follow their courageous example of boycotting Israeli goods and for shoppers to support their principled stand.”
Palestinian Civil Society Endorsement
The Co-op has also received the endorsement of all major Palestinian agricultural and farmers’ unions. In a letter received July 26, the organizations make the following statement:
“The Olympia Food Co-op has demonstrated its courage and commitment to human rights by adopting a concrete and courageous measure in a show of genuine solidarity with the indigenous Palestinian people [...] We sincerely hope that their decision to stand with justice will not waver under the immense intimidation and bullying that Israel lobby groups will undoubtedly unleash against them. We believe that the most effective support conscientious individuals and groups across the US can provide to the Olympia Food Co-op is by starting their own local BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) campaigns that follow Olympia’s lead, branding Israeli products and services everywhere as stained with injustice and war crimes, just as South African products were treated during apartheid. Only thus can justice prevail and peace be attained and sustained.”
Endorsers of the letter included the General Union of Palestinian Peasants and Co-op Groups, Union of Palestinian Farmers, Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (STW), Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees, Union of Palestinian Agricultural Engineers, Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and National Committee for Popular Resistance, Popular Committees against the Wall and Settlements in Nil’in, Bil’in, Al-Maasara, Nabi Saleh, Budros, Beit Jala, and Wadi Rahal.
Outpouring of Support
The Olympia Food Co-op has been the focus of international attention since the July 15 decision to honor the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) for human rights. The Co-op became the first US grocer to publicly join this call.
Richard Falk, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Territories states, “The Olympia Food Co-op boycott of Israeli products bravely joins a growing worldwide movement on the part of citizens and the private sector to support by non-violent tangible acts the Palestinian struggle for justice and self-determination.”
“Rachel Corrie took a stand in March 2003 for a Palestinian family whose home was threatened with demolition,” says boycott supporter Cindy Corrie, the mother of the slain human rights activist. “We believe it fitting that the Olympia Food Co-op, of which she was a member, now stands with millions throughout the world who say, ‘Enough.’”
“This outpouring of support demonstrates the global impact of decisions made in Olympia,” says boycott supporter Chance Kroll. “As a co-op member it makes me keenly aware that what I buy makes a tangible difference to the Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers who risk imprisonment or even death for their work.”
The online petition in support of the boycott has received over 1600 signatures from the community and internationally. The list currently grows by about 200 signatures each day. A list of other notable endorsers is attached, and can be found at www.olympiabds.org/get-involved/petition-in-support-of-the-olympia-food-co-op.html.
Outreach Event
The Palestinian- and Israeli-led global BDS movement, inspired by the South African anti-apartheid struggle and the U.S. civil rights movement, has proven the most effective way to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and sustainable peace.
OlympiaBDS has organized an educational talk on the effectiveness of boycott, divestment and sanctions in the campaign to support the human rights of Palestinians. Olympia residents are invited to attend “Why Boycott? Why Divest?”, August 4, 2010 at 7:00pm at Traditions Fair Trade, 300 5th Ave in Olympia, Washington. The event is free of charge.
Press Contact:
Cindy Corrie
(360) 754-3998
www.olympiabds.org
July 28, 2010