Chicago

Chicago gave former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert a proper greeting once again yesterday.

Batsheva Dance Company, identified by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs as “the best known global ambassador of Israeli culture,” has faced protests throughout its ongoing US tour.

On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Palestine solidarity activists in Chicago attempted to deliver a giant heart-shaped petition to Obama’s campaign headquarters in Chicago which called for an end to US aid to Israel.

Yesterday in Chicago, more than 300 balloons were released in downtown Grant Park — one balloon for each child killed during Israel’s 22-day assault on the Gaza Strip three years ago.

Today Nadine Darwish, a sophomore at Lincoln-Way High School in the Chicago suburbs, tweeted the news that her school will no longer serve Sabra brand hummus. This afternoon she told me more about what happened, and that others concerned with human rights shouldn’t be intimidated from speaking up.

Last Friday I was part of a group of Palestine solidarity activists who took advantage of the large crowds on the busiest shopping day of the year to educate people about companies profiting from or normalizing Israel’s occupation.

Two Israel propaganda events at different Chicago-area universities were creatively protested last night, showing that Israel and its supporters are having a hard time going unchallenged these days.

Palestine solidarity activists in Chicago have launched a campaign targeting Illinois senator Mark Kirk and his “extreme” support of Israeli government policies.

Exciting news today from the BDS Movement website:

The University of London Union (ULU)  has voted 10-1 to institute and campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in support of Palestine. The motion called for “thorough research into ULU investments and contracts” with companies guilty of “violating Palestinian human rights” as set out by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC). 

After DePaul University initially agreed to remove Sabra hummus from the school’s cafe, outside pressure from the usual suspects caused the university to reverse its decision. However, Students for Justice in Palestine activists didn’t take no for an answer and they are now posing the question of whether the school should boycott Sabra through a student government referendum.