California Green Party formally joins Israel boycott, divestment & sanctions movement

PRESS RELEASE

July 1, 2022, SACRAMENTO, CA – The Green Party of California (GPCA) announced today that it has formally joined the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel and will participate until Israel ends its illegal occupation of lands, and other ongoing crimes, committed against Palestinians. GPCA General Assembly delegates voted by an 80 percent supermajority on June 19, 2022 to join the boycott.

Laura Wells, spokesperson for the GPCA said, “Since the Green Party of the United States endorsed the Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement in 2005, the Green Party of California has always informally supported that decision, and has released periodic statements condemning Israel’s brutal, criminal, occupation and apartheid. But over the last decade, Israel’s deadly impunity and arrogance have become so brazen and shocking that California Greens feel it is now time to make a clear public statement that we have formally joined the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.”

The GPCA released the following statement:

“Israel Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Declaration

Because for several decades, all forms of international intervention and attempts at peace-making have until now failed to end Israel’s occupation and oppression of the people of Palestine, the Green Party of California endorses the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. We will maintain our participation in the BDS movement until Israel is compliant with all United Nations-recognized international laws, all resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, and all decisions and directions by all United Nations-recognized international courts, regardless of Israel's participation in or ratification of such courts.

The BDS movement (based on the similar campaign that was key to ending apartheid in South Africa) has become one of the most effective nonviolent means for achieving justice and genuine peace between Palestinians and Israelis. See: https://bdsmovement.net

The Green Party of California calls upon all of its members and allies, the Government of California, and all California residents, businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, political parties, and local and regional governments and agencies, to likewise join in the worldwide BDS efforts.

The Green Party of California also calls upon the United States government to similarly join the BDS movement, enact all sanctions called for by that movement, and to immediately cease all civilian economic and material support to Israel until Israel complies with all international laws, resolutions, and court decisions.

Finally, the Green Party of California demands that the United States government immediately and permanently cease all funding and material support, direct and indirect, to the Israel military.”

Contacts:
Green Party of California
gpca@cagreens.org
916.448.3437
PO Box 485, San Francisco, CA 94104