(Olympia, WA – July 27, 2010) The Olympia Food Co-op’s decision to
honor the international call for boycott of Israeli goods has inspired
an inundation of phone calls, e-mails, and petition signatures
supporting the solidarity gesture, including an endorsement from South
African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
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
contact@olympiabds.org
www.olympiabds.org