Park Slope Food Coop Votes to Boycott Israeli Products Over Gaza
The Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, a member-owned democratic institution with 16,700 members, voted 67% in favor of boycotting Israeli products as part of the BDS movement, protesting Israel's policies in Gaza. Organizers from PSFC4Palestine framed the vote as a continuation of the coop's history of boycotts (e.g., South African apartheid, Chilean dictatorship). The decision followed years of activism, including electing pro-boycott board members and removing a supermajority requirement. Opponents criticized the move as divisive.
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Behind the Park Slope Food Co-op’s Vote to Boycott Israel
The Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn voted to boycott Israeli products, with 67% of attendees supporting the measure. The decision, years in the making, was driven by the 'Park Slope Food Co-op for Palestine' group, which mobilized members after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel's subsequent military response. The group gradually elected pro-boycott members to the board, eventually removing a supermajority voting requirement and passing the boycott. Opponents criticized the move as divisive and a lost opportunity for coexistence. The co-op had previously boycotted products from apartheid South Africa and Chile. The article frames the vote as an example of politics that leaves no room for dissent.
City JournalBehind the Park Slope Food Co-op’s Vote to Boycott Israel
The Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn voted on May 26, 2026, to boycott Israeli products, with 67% of attendees supporting the measure. The decision followed years of activism by the 'Park Slope Food Co-op for Palestine' group, which gained momentum after October 7, 2023. The group strategically elected pro-boycott board members and successfully lowered the voting threshold from a 75% supermajority to a simple majority. Opponents criticized the move as divisive and a lost opportunity for coexistence. The co-op had previously boycotted products from apartheid South Africa and Chile. Israeli-sourced items were immediately removed and donated to a food pantry.
City JournalBehind the Park Slope Food Co-op’s Vote to Boycott Israel
The Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn voted to boycott Israeli products, with 67% of attendees supporting the measure. The decision followed years of activism by the 'Park Slope Food Co-op for Palestine' group, which gained momentum after October 7, 2023. The group gradually elected supportive board members and successfully removed a supermajority voting requirement before the boycott vote. Opponents criticized the move as divisive and a lost opportunity for coexistence. The co-op had previously boycotted products from apartheid South Africa and Pinochet's Chile. The article frames the boycott as part of a broader trend of political polarization within progressive institutions.
City JournalWhy the Park Slope Food Coop’s BDS Battle Is So Important
The article discusses the upcoming vote at the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn on whether to boycott Israeli products in protest of Israel's policies in Gaza. Organizers from PSFC4Palestine argue the boycott is a continuation of the coop's long tradition of using economic choices for political solidarity, following past boycotts of South African apartheid goods and Chilean products under Pinochet. The vote is framed as a test of democratic collective action amid widespread feelings of helplessness over global crises. The coop's 16,700 members will decide on the measure, which has been debated for years. The article positions the campaign as a model for translating moral outrage into tangible action.
Article | The NationWhy the Park Slope Food Coop’s BDS Battle Is So Important
The article discusses the upcoming vote at the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn on whether to boycott Israeli products as part of the BDS movement, in protest of Israel's policies in Gaza. Organizers from PSFC4Palestine argue the campaign is about translating moral outrage into tangible collective action amid widespread uncertainty. The coop, a member-owned democratic institution with 16,700 members, has a history of boycotts (e.g., South African apartheid, Chilean dictatorship). The vote is seen as a test of democratic values and a potential model for grassroots activism.
Article | The NationWhy the Park Slope Food Coop’s BDS Battle Is So Important
The article discusses the upcoming vote at the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn on whether to boycott Israeli products as part of the BDS movement. Organizers from PSFC4Palestine argue the campaign is about translating moral outrage into tangible collective action amid global uncertainty. The coop, a member-owned democratic institution with 16,700 members, has a history of boycotts including South African apartheid and Chilean dictatorship. The vote is framed as a continuation of this tradition, with Israel's defenders arguing for exceptional treatment. The article highlights the coop's role as a model for democratic participation and political agency in challenging times.
Article | The Nation