March 30th Global Day of Action for BDS / April 4th Anti-War Demo

March 30th, 2009

Global Day of Action in Solidarity with the Palestinian people and for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel www.bdsmovement.net

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In commemoration of Palestinian Land Day, and in support of the Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) re-affirms its commitment to the BDS movement. We call upon all sectors of Canadian society to join us in Boycotting, Divesting and Sanctioning Israeli Apartheid.

Over the past year, the Canadian BDS movement has made tremendous gains across a variety of sectors. We would like to once again congratulate the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and the Canadian Union of Public Employees – Ontario Division for their leadership in the labour movement and commitment to researching and implementing BDS.

Canadian campuses continue to be central to BDS – in March, Israeli Apartheid Week was held in 14 cities across Canada and over 45 cities internationally. Canadian student unions have commited firm support for the Palestinian Right to Education campaign, the Federation Autonome du Collegial in Quebec (FAC) have adopted a resolution joining the BDS campaign, and Faculty for Palestine issued a statement condemning the Israeli massacres in Gaza and calling on the Canadian government to issue sanctions on Israel.

The Israeli assault on Gaza has once again exposed the brutal violence and atrocities committed by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people. The Canadian government has shamefully played a key role in supporting Israel and championing the Israeli apartheid cause at home, at the U.N and around the world. Canada was the only country to vote against condemnation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza in the U.N Human rights council.

This year we have seen unprecedented attacks on Palestine solidarity organizing from Zionist groups, University administrations and the Canadian government itself. Despite the backlash and attempts at repression, the BDS movement in Canada which is working to put an end to the Israeli military aggression and occupation, for full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel and for the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees – is growing and stronger than ever.

From the blockade of South African dockworkers against Israeli goods, to the governments of Bolivia and Venezuela that have cut official ties with Israeli Apartheid, we are inspired, gain strength and are proud to be part of the growing International BDS movement

Given the unrelenting and unapologetic Canadian political and economic support for Israel, and given the escalating violence of the Israeli state especially in Gaza – we see that now more than ever we must stand up and hold the Israeli state accountable and challenge Canadian complicity with apartheid. Now, more than ever, we must join and build the Boycott, Divestment and
Sanctions movement against Israeli apartheid!

JOIN US:

Monday, March 30th: The four-city speaking tour GEORGE GALLOWAY: RESISTING WAR
FROM GAZA TO KANDAHAR is going ahead as planned. The ban on Galloway's trip to Canada is being challenged. If, in the end, Galloway is not permitted into the country, all events will go on as planned. A live broadcast of Galloway's banned speech will be shown. For more information about the campaign to get Galloway into Canada, visit www.defendfreespeech.ca.

Saturday, April 4th: Anti-War Demonstration:
JOIN THE BOYCOTT ISRAELI APARTHEID CONTINGENT
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid supports the Global Week against War and the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War demonstration: 1 PM @ Younge and Dundas Square

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GET INVOLVED!
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
endapartheid@riseup.net / www.caiaweb.org

More on the Global Day of Action for BDS:
bdsmovement.net