Dave King: Thoughts on an anti-apartheid co-op

Unless you have been living in a cave, you are aware there is a movement to cease selling Israeli-made products at the River Valley Co-op.

As I understand it, proponents believe this will bring pressure on that country to cease its attacks on its neighbors, similar to how boycotts brought an end to apartheid in South Africa. Opponents question the effectiveness of this strategy, and ask why then continue to stock products from other oppressive or warlike regimes? Some also feel personally attacked or threatened.

Regardless, the management of the co-op are in opposition, and it will require a potentially long and likely divisive struggle to advance this new policy. It would avoid a lot of fireworks to focus on convincing fellow members not to buy these items. If they don’t sell, the co-op won’t stock them, and the same end will have been realized peacefully and perhaps more democratically. If they continue to sell, the option remains to redouble their efforts or renew the campaign to convince or pressure management.

Regardless, the co-op is a community, and I hope that in choosing a strategy the proponents are considering the very real fears and sensitivities of all our members.

Dave King

Amherst