Boycott Indigo and Chapters Bookstores in Canada

KabobFest

NOW Magazine in Toronto reports that Palestine solidarity activists from the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid have launched a boycott campaign against the chain of Indigo and Chapters bookstores, Canada’s largest bookseller. Its owners run a scholarship fund for Israeli soldiers without family in Israel — in other words, Zionuts who travel to Israel just to fight for the Zionut vision of an exclusive ethno-religious state that suppresses and dispossesses the native Palestinians. Which is, in a word, racist.

On Thursday May 10, activists from the CAIA confronted Heather Reisman (left), majority owner of Chapters and Indigo bookstores at a book signing for Ralph Nader’s new book, The Seventeen Traditions. Nader, being the stud he is, asked for a “tip of the hat” to Israeli reservists who have refused to serve, Reisman departed, leaving her guest alone at the front the crowd. Of course, the mob of justifiably angry activists did not let him finish his response, which was unfortunate.

When in the question and answer period, CAIA activists questioned Reisman about her support for the Heseg Foundation for Lone Soldiers, a program of financial support for former ‘lone soldiers’ in the Israeli military, Reisman refused to “engage in a debate” and instead, shut down the event and walked out (watch a short video of the action by clicking here).

According to CAIA, “Reisman will continue to be confronted by opponents of Israeli apartheid until all ties with Heseg are cut.”

Though these kind of interventions can be annoying for on-lookers, the weight of Israel’s criminality and barbarism after more than 40 years of direct military occupation call for such disturbances. Some will argue they are counter-productive, but so is politeness when institutionalized savagery reigns with such support in our communities. I personally do not shout down speakers, but we’re past the point where enough became enough.

Article Source: Kabobfest.com