Art2Action Endorses PACBI

Art2Action stands in unequivocal solidarity with the Palestinian people who are enduring an unfathomable genocide, which is being committed by the state of Israel with full impunity from world leaders, including the United States government. In response to the ongoing genocide, illegal occupation, and immoral apartheid policies of the state of Israel, Art2Action hereby endorses the Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), part of the Palestinian international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Aligning with PACBI’s guidelines is not a new direction for Art2Action, but a reaffirmation of our ethical commitment and solidarity practices in times of unthinkable, livestreamed genocide that the world has been witness to for over a year. We are responding to the Theater Workers for Ceasefire (TW4C) call to publicly endorse PACBI, joining many other arts organizations in solidarity, including the MENA Theatre-Makers Alliance.

We are clear that criticism of the military actions of a state, particularly warfare and genocide, does not constitute discrimination against a people, religion, or ethnicity. To stand against Zionism, which is a political philosophy the state of Israel has weaponized against indigenous Palestinian people, is to stand against settler colonialism, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing. We recognize that both Arab and Jewish people of the region and diaspora are semitic peoples, and we stand in solidarity with both, against antisemitism in all forms. We support the inspiring work of Jewish Voices for Peace, Israeli anti-Zionists, and all allies across the world who oppose the political campaign of Zionism, the violent military actions of the state of Israel, and all apartheid and segregationist laws and policies.

By officially endorsing PACBI, Art2Action commits to boycott:

• Cultural Institutions that are involved in or silent about Israel's regime of oppression, and those who do not endorse the comprehensive rights of Palestinians under international law. 

• Israeli state-commissioned cultural products (e.g., plays, touring productions) created to serve as political propaganda (such as the “Brand Israel” campaign), unless state funding is free from political conditions. 

• Sponsored cultural events supported by official Israeli bodies, complicit institutions, or pro-Israel lobby groups, such as festivals partially or fully sponsored by these entities. 

• Normalization projects bringing Palestinians/Arabs and Israelis together, unless the Israeli counterparts oppose oppression and recognize full Palestinian rights, including refugees' right to return. 

In line with BDS and PACBI’s guidelines, mere affiliation of Israeli artists and scholars with an Israeli academic or cultural institution is not grounds for applying the boycott. Rooted in principles of international law and universal human rights, the BDS movement, including PACBI, rejects on principle boycotts of individuals based on their identity (such as citizenship, race, gender, or religion) or opinion. If, however, an individual is representing the state of Israel or a complicit Israeli institution (such as a dean, rector, or president), or is commissioned/recruited to participate in Israel’s efforts to “rebrand” itself, then her/his activities are subject to the institutional boycott the BDS movement is calling for.

For deeper understanding, we encourage everyone to read the full explanation of PACBI Guidelines: https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi/cultural-boycott-guidelines

In addition, Art2Action is hereby embarking on a comprehensive process to align all of our organizational systems, platforms, and partnerships with the values and practices of BDS: Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions – including moving our website off WIX to another platform, changing our credit cards and investments, and more, within this year. Change is a process that takes time, but we are committed to it. BDS is a powerful form of non-violent resistance that has proven historically effective. We remember how the global BDS Movement against apartheid in South Africa changed the course of history. And when we despair that change is impossible, we remember the words of Nelson Mandela: “Everything is impossible, until it is done.”

We urge theatre-makers, cultural leaders, and arts institutions across the United States to join us, to break the silence by denouncing the ongoing genocide funded by our tax dollars, and to take a stand against genocide, occupation, and apartheid – in Israel, Congo, Sudan, here on Turtle Island, and everywhere it still exists. We urge you to stand on the right side of history, and with us demand:

CEASEFIRE NOW! ARMS EMBARGO NOW!

To learn more about Palestine and the ongoing genocide, visit the free, online archive of 24 Hours for Palestine: A Moon Will Rise From Darkness produced by Golden Thread Productions, Art2Action, MENA Theatre-Makers Alliance, and more, on HowlRound Theatre Commons. It's FREE PALESTINE until Palestine is free.