Punks Against Apartheid officially launched its website on November 23 in support of the global boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign targetting Israel.
The group says it is “is an emerging global network of musicians, artists, and activists inspired by the history and ethics of punk rock. We are opposed to all forms of oppression, exploitation and racism — particularly the Israeli apartheid regime and its colonial terror.
“The policies of the Israeli government both in the Occupied Territories and within ‘Israel proper’ towards Palestinians qualify as apartheid, straight up…
“We urge all artists — especially punks! — to heed the call from the Palestinian people for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel. We refuse to play in Israel in violation of the Palestinian call for cultural boycott and we refuse to lend our voices to any event seeking to whitewash the reality of apartheid.
“Punk has had an important and vibrant history in politicising its listeners and forming a distinct counter-cultural message against the complacency of mainstream industry music.
“During the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, punk bands around the world responded to the call for solidarity.
“As punks and people inspired by this legacy, we hope to maintain the integrity of that history by expressing our unwavering support for Palestinian resistance to the occupation and convincing our fellow punks to do so as well.”
The group said: “Lots has happened since late June when we stumbled onto the scene asking Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine to cancel their show at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club.
“That campaign took on legs that even we ourselves didn’t anticipate it growing, which stunningly confirmed the worldwide support that the movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions is gaining against Israeli apartheid.
They said: “On one hand, there have been victories — the cancellation of Tuba Skinny’s appearance at the Red Sea Jazz Fest and Natacha Atlas’ own cancellation.
“There have also been setbacks, such as the decision of concert promoters to sue Lebanese BDS groups for their boycott of Placebo’s show in Beirut last summer.”
They added: “[T]he struggle, as always, continues. Add into this mix the global Occupy movement (‘Occupy Wall Street! Not Palestine!’) and we’ve got fertile ground for real, substantial cultural resistance–including the ongoing BDS campaign.”
Punks Against Apartheid’s “points of unity” statement has already been endorsed by groups such as Propagandhi, Angelic Upstarts, Tanzila Ahmed, the Oppressed, Oi Polloi, the Shondes and Sabina England, as well as others in the punk-activist community.
The site will feature campaigns, such as an upcoming one to convince Moldovan punks Zdob si Zdub to cancel their show in Tel Aviv.