It’s a common theory that oftentimes we can feel helpless to humanitarian crises around the
world, especially if they are taking place overseas. However, people have resorted to both
traditional and creative ways of protesting to causes that need severe attention.
One of the simplest acts of protest and solidarity we can express to a cause is boycotting.
When boycotting is done consistently and properly, its effects can cause severe damage to
companies that are unethical, oppressive, and inhumane. In this case, boycotts have risen against
companies associated with Israel, the settler-colonial state responsible for extreme war crimes in
Palestine.
Since October 7, 30,960 Palestinians have been murdered, and 72,524 more have been injured
with most victims being women and children.
This doesn’t include those who are missing. It’s crucial to acknowledge that the genocide happening in Palestine is far from being a recent event, as Israel’s occupation of Palestine dates back 76 consistent years since the Nakba.
In 1948, during the Nakba, Indigenous Palestinians experienced 70 massacres, 15,000 murders
and roughly 530 villages were eradicated. This not only led to ethnic cleansing, but resulted in
750,000 refugees that ultimately led to mass settler-colonialism that created the Israeli state.
Israel’s war crimes against international law also include graphic tactics against the Indigenous
Palestinian peoples such as apartheid, segregation, exile, home displacements/demolitions,
deprivation of food, water, and basic necessities for hygiene to prevent infection. Additionally,
the largest concentration camp and open air prison that inhibits its own displaced Indigenous
peoples as no-one can enter or leave freely, otherwise known as Gaza.
Boycotting plays an important role in affecting these funds that support and aid these colonial
tactics and systems. Understanding the importance of your individual actions against oppression
is vital to create change. If you feel you cannot create a difference as a single person, you are
sorely mistaken.
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement led by Palestinians have distributed a
list of companies that must be boycotted so that Israel will be pressured into obeying
international law, inspired by South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement.
McDonalds is high on the list to boycott, as they have sent thousands of free meals to the Israeli
military and intend to everyday, including offering those in the military to receive half priced
discounts.
Starbucks has also been heavily boycotted around the world after the company sued against
Starbucks Workers United after thousands of baristas from 360 U.S. cafes had signed a post on X
in support of the Palestinian people due to the Gaza genocide. However, the post was later
deleted after an hour.
Starbucks claimed the post was in “support of Hamas” and significantly damaged the reputation
of the company. The union workers countersued, as they accused Starbucks of defamation and
the right for continued use of the logo.
Due to worldwide boycotting, Starbucks has lost a staggering $11 billion in market value. This
removes about 9.4% of its total value. This also includes the closing down of Starbucks cafes
throughout the U.S.
In my local supermarket, many of the boycotted company items have been on clearance in bulk,
including “boycott Israeli apartheid” stickers on items that have ties to Israel.
The effectiveness of boycotting is a historical one, as its involvement in gaining freedom and
rights to the oppressed people and their cause has been a form of activism that has successfully
worked amidst the struggle for centuries.
By controlling to whom and what our money profits towards, we can hold companies that aid or
support war crimes accountable. We as a society can aid oppressed societies such as Gaza in
gaining freedom, basic human rights, and the removal of apartheid and occupation systems.
Despite being far from Palestine, we are capable of taking charge of crucial change that can
directly impact the Palestinian cause. Especially being in America, as our tax funds support these
illegal war crimes that go against international law.
We are able to invest in alternative companies and local shops that do not have links to Israel,
while it impacts Israeli invested companies by dropping their markets significantly through these
boycotts.
When searching ties of a company, look even more closely in their parent companies to ensure
the items themselves are not funding a genocide.
Remain consistent in boycotting, commit to research, call for a ceasefire, and take action for the
Free Palestine movement that has experienced a 76 year long genocide, aparthied,
settler-colonialism, and occupation of an Indigeous people that have suffered for far too long.
The BDS boycott website:
https://bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Against-These-Companies-Profiting-From-Genocide
To make boycotting simpler as the full list can be overwhelming or perhaps difficult to
memorize, using the app, “No Thanks” available on android and IOS, will allow you to scan a
barcode and inform you whether the product is safe or not. The app also has a more detailed list
of companies to boycott.