Amplify Palestine! NYC cultural boycott pledge and associated organizing.

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As part of the thoughtful, hopeful, and principled Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and out of respect for Palestinian self-determination, we affirm that "Brand Israel" is not welcome in New York and we commit to upholding the cultural boycott however we can. We will not participate in events sponsored by the Israeli government or complicit Israeli institutions in New York, Israel, or anywhere else. As a community of New York-based artists and cultural workers, we call on other artists and cultural workers to join this global movement until Israeli occupation, colonization, and apartheid have ended.

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Press Release

New York, NY, November 16, 2015 – On Saturday, November 14th, nearly 400 New Yorkers packed the Verso Books Loft in DUMBO, Brooklyn, to capacity for “Palestine Calling: A Launch Party to Amplify the Cultural Boycott of Israel in NYC” (photos). The event featured rousing musical performances by eclectic artists including oud virtuoso Simon Shaheen, Suhel and Tamer Nafar of the Palestinian hip hop group DAM, Brooklyn vocalist and composer Tamar-kaliSonny Singh of Red Baraat, and Daro Behroozi of Lucky Chops. Eighty-eight artists and cultural workers at the event signed on to a New York City-focused pledge of support for the cultural boycott of Israel.

"It was really exciting to be collaborating with so many incredible musicians coming together around the common cause of justice in Palestine,” remarked Sonny Singh. “I hope this concert will inspire many other musicians and artists to join this movement for the cultural boycott of Israel."

Press Release

Nov. 17, 2015 - New York, NY – A video released today features eight leading artists stating, “I endorse the cultural boycott of Israel.” The artists include Tony-nominated stage and television actress Kathleen Chalfant; musician Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd; musicians Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio; musicians Kool A.D. and Tamar-kali; artist and author of Drawing BloodMolly Crabapple; and visual artist Swoon.

The movement for a global boycott of Israel -- launched by a coalition of over 170 Palestinian trade unions, political parties and human rights groups in order to advance their movement for freedom, justice and equality -- has steadily gained support worldwide over the last decade. The video was released by Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel and is accompanied by an appeal for more cultural workers to pledge their support for the boycott of Israel.

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Event

Launch Party to Amplify the
Cultural Boycott of Israel in NYC

featuring
Suhel and Tamer Nafar of DAM, Tamar-kali,
Sonny Singh, 
Daro Behroozi
and legendary oud virtuoso
Simon Shaheen with Firas Zreik
plus
DJ Myrto Joyce
 

Saturday November 14 @ 7:30PM
Verso Books Loft, 20 Jay St., DUMBO, Brooklyn
Tickets: palestinecalling.bpt.me

Event

Adalah-NY presents

We Teach Life: Rafeef Ziadah, with Phil Monsour

Join critically acclaimed Palestinian spoken-word artist Rafeef Ziadah for the NYC release of her new album, We Teach Life. The evening will feature a powerful selection of Rafeef's poetry in her signature performance style, with original music compositions from Phil Monsour.

Tickets ($5–$15 sliding scale): https://we-teach-life.eventbrite.com 

"Rafeef’s poetry demands to be heard." – Ken Loach

"Sometimes anger provokes truth: bare, free, not to be stifled or evaded. Sometimes anger, indignation, despair, full blown love of the life of one’s people, one’s own land and planet, can bring fierce flower to the poet’s heart. Then we are blessed with passionate words of resistance that can become the foundation of prophecy. A change for which there is no turning back. Such is the case of this poet." – Alice Walker

Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian performance poet and human rights activist based in London. Her performances of her poems ‘We Teach Life, Sir’ and ‘Shades of Anger’ went viral online within days of their release. Since the debut of her first album, Hadeel, Rafeef has toured many countries, and in 2012 she was chosen to represent Palestine at the Southbank Centre Poets Olympiad.

Phil Monsour is a singer/songwriter whose music explores complex issues of identity, solidarity, and politics. Based in Brisbane, Phil has extensive performing and recording experience as a solo performer and with his bands, the Phil Monsour Band, the Cutters, and Popproperly.

Organized by Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel. Cosponsored by The New School Students for Justice in Palestine.

Invite your friends and spread the word on Facebook! 

Initiative Press Coverage: 

Press Coverage

Middle East Monitor

Abstract: 

Leading artists with ties to New York have expressed their support for the cultural boycott of Israel in a new video from campaign group Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel.

The video features actor Kathleen Chalfant; musician Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd; musicians Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio; musicians Kool A.D. and Tamar-kali; artist and author of Drawing Blood, Molly Crabapple; and visual artist Swoon.

Press Coverage

Colorlines

Abstract: 

"How can I tour in Israel knowing Palestinian artists are denied the right to travel?" That's the question Tunde Adebimpe, lead singer of TV on the Radio, poses in a new video produced by Adalah-NY, a New York nonprofit that opposes Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories. Released as a part of the 10-year-old Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS Movement), the video also features, among others, Adebimpe's bandmate Kyp Malone, ex-Das Racist member Kool A.D. and singer-composer Tamar-kali.

Press Coverage

VICE

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Today, a group of artists—among them Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, actor Kathleen Chalfant of The Affair, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, and visual artist Swoon—have released a video in support of the boycott. And we are glad to say that a growing number of artists from Canada, the UK, and now the US are following the tradition of Artists United Against Apartheid, and have lent their visibility and voice to the struggle to end the Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

Press Coverage

Alternative Information Center

Abstract: 

The NY-based Palestine solidarity group Adalah-NY is calling on artists and culture workers to affirm their support of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and commit to upholding the cultural boycott of Israel.

Press Coverage

Palestine in America

Abstract: 

Adalah New York released a new video for its New York Boycott of Israel campaign to make it clear that “Brand Israel” is not welcome in the city.

The video features T.V. on the Radio’s David “Kyp” Joel Malone, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, actress Kathleen Chalfant, artist Molly Crabapple, musician and actor Babatunde Omoroga “Tunde” Adebimpe, rapper Kool A.D., New York artist Swoon and rock-singer Tamar-Kali.

Press Coverage

Justseeds

Abstract: 

Eight leading artists, all with ties to New York, state their support for the cultural boycott of Israel in our new video. The video features actor Kathleen Chalfant; musician Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd; musicians Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio; musicians Kool A.D. and Tamar-kali; artist and author of Drawing Blood, Molly Crabapple; and visual artist Swoon.

Press Coverage

Electronic Intifada

Abstract: 

But increasing numbers of cultural workers are vocally refusing to play Israel’s game, recognizing, as British musician Brian Eno and Israeli musician and boycott activist Ohal Grietzer put it, “In the current context, performing or not performing in Israel forces a choice between taking the side of the oppressor or the oppressed.”

In a video released this week, eight prominent artists state their support for the cultural boycott of Israel and describe its abuses of Palestinians’ human rights in general, and its targeting of culture in particular.

Press Coverage

Haaretz

Abstract: 

Eight American artists and musicians are featured in a new video to promote the cultural boycott of Israel as part of the BDS movement. In the last two days hundreds of artists signed a petition declaring that they refuse to show their work or perform in an apartheid state. [Article in Hebrew.]

Press Coverage

American Herald Tribune

Abstract: 

Adalah, a grassroots NYC activist organization for Palestinian rights, has launched a new video advocating the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The video was shown at the launch party on Saturday, 14 November, though not released officially until the 17th. Adalah members and related activists met at Verso Books in DUMBO, Brooklyn for music, food and BDS.

Press Coverage

Haaretz

Abstract: 

A new video starring Roger Waters and other U.S. artists is calling for a cultural boycott of Israel. The video begins with the artists explaining the different ways in which Israeli control dictates the life of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The clip then details the economic cost of the occupation. [Article in English.]

Press Coverage

Salon

Abstract: 

“How can I perform in Israel when millions of Palestinians cannot attend?” asks renowned musician Roger Waters in a new video.

The video, released by Adalah-N.Y.: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel, features influential New York City-based artists calling on other cultural workers to pledge their support for the boycott of Israel, in protest of the country’s illegal 48-year occupation of the Palestinian territories and constant human rights abuses against indigenous Palestinians.

Press Coverage

International Business Times, India Edition

Abstract: 

Continuing his cultural boycott of Israel, Roger Waters, activist and co-founder of the iconic band Pink Floyd, and other artistes have refused to perform in Israel in a new video.

The video, released by Adalah-NY, The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel, features Waters saying: "How can I perform in Israel when millions of Palestinians cannot attend?"

Press Coverage

EconoTimes

Abstract: 

Adalah-NY has released a video featuring eight artists who have come forward to support the cultural boycott of Israel. Since April 2004, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has called upon intellectuals and academics worldwide to “comprehensively and consistently boycott all Israeli academic and cultural institutions as a contribution to the struggle to end Israel’s occupation, colonization and system of apartheid”, BDS Movement states.

Press Coverage

FACT

Abstract: 

In November 2015, Eno co-authored an open letter alongside Brooklyn-based musician Ohal Grietzer explaining the rationale for a cultural boycott of Israel. The letter was released alongside a video of 8 prominent NYC-based artists, including TV On The Radio’s Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe, Das Racist’s Kool A.D., and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, stating their decision to endorse the boycott.

Press Coverage

The Fader

Abstract: 

BDS struck early victories in 2010 when Elvis Costello and the late Gil-Scott Heron cancelled planned appearances. In late November last year, eight artists with ties to New York—including Grietzer’s friends Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone—stated their endorsement of the cultural boycott of Israel in a new video. Alongside it, Grietzer co-authored an article with the English composer Brian Eno that laid out the rationale for the boycott.

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