NEW YORK, March 31, 2011 (WAFA) – New York human rights advocates from Adalah-NY released a youtube video (The Video: http://adalahny.org/videos/bds-flash-mob-in-grand-central-station-nyc-2-26-11) on Wednesday of a flash mob in New York City’s Grand Central Station singing and dancing for a boycott of Israel.
The New York flash mob was part of a Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Day of Action that was called to coincide with Palestinian Land Day.
On Saturday, more than 30 keffiyeh-clad dancers and a five-person marching band surprised crowds at New York's Grand Central Station with a seemingly impromptu song and dance.
The flash mob started with a handful of people and within a minute saw dozens more singing and dancing to the tune of 'Don't Stop Believin'' by Journey. 'Don't stop boycottin',' they sang, 'Think when you're shopping.'
They called out Aroma, Sabra, and Ahava, three companies profiting from Israeli occupation, and celebrated artists Roger Waters, Gil Scott Heron, and Elvis Costello, among the artists who have heeded the Palestinian civil society call to boycott Israel until it complies with international law.
Land Day, honored by Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, in Israel and in exile, commemorates the March 30, 1976 killing by Israeli military forces of six young Palestinian citizens of Israel. They were among thousands protesting the Israeli government’s expropriation of Palestinian land to build new Jewish-only colonies and expand existing ones.
Actions around the world on Land Day symbolize Palestinian resistance to Israel’s ongoing land theft, colonization, occupation and apartheid.
The Global BDS Day of Action on Land Day is part of the growing international movement calling for a boycott of Israel until it respects the basic rights of Palestinians living under occupation, within Israel and in exile.
The Palestinian-led BDS movement is a moral, nonviolent campaign for human rights modeled on the worldwide boycott movement that helped to bring an end to apartheid in South Africa.
M.A.
