Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions

In 2005, 170 Palestinian civil society organizations issued a historic, rights-based call to the international community for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) targeting Israel and institutions complicit in its oppressive policies toward Palestinians. Modeled after anti-apartheid organizing in South Africa, BDS has proven to be an effective economic pressure strategy for human rights.

USCPR endorsed the Palestinian call for BDS shortly after it was issued in July 2005. Academic and cultural boycott were endorsed in 2009. Active campaigns in the U.S. include those targeting Ahava, HP, Elbit Systems, McDonald’s, Puma, Re/Max, Sabra Hummus, and SodaStream. Divestment campaigns are happening in churches, campuses, local city councils, and beyond, and have already won more than 250 victories in the United States alone. Here’s a list of victories!

See this BDS graphic on complicit companies to boycott and divest from, and read more.

Raise awareness about BDS

Print out BDS stickers to spread around your neighborhood. Find designs here from @GentleSuns. These also look great on flyers for wheatpasting or signs for BDS protests.

Toolkit and Videos

Our BDS toolkit and short video series will help you organize effective boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns in your communities in support of Palestinian rights.

Divestment Tool

Introducing the Divestment Tool we’ve been waiting for!

For years, Palestinian rights supporters have been asking how they can scan their own investments or the portfolios of their churches, universities, municipalities, unions, businesses, and other institutions to ensure they’re not invested in companies profiting from Israel’s brutal military occupation, war crimes, and daily violations of Palestinian rights and international law. This information can be a crucial first step in launching a divestment campaign in response to the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS).

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