About the campaign
Greater Baltimore DSA has formed a coalition with JVP Baltimore and PYM DMV to launch a targeted boycott campaign to shift the culture of the city towards international solidarity with Palestine. Our campaign asks Baltimore residents to pledge to boycott products and brands in Baltimore that are complicit in Israel's genocide and apartheid of Palestinians. Inspired by the BDS movement's Apartheid-Free Zones and No Appetite For Apartheid campaigns, the Apartheid-Free Baltimore (AFB) campaign seeks to divest our funds from Israel's ongoing ethnic cleansing project, and re-invest those funds back into our own community.
Campaign coalition members
Our Strategy
Our campaign is focused on two fronts: cultural, and economic. We aim to disrupt the normalization of apartheid in our culture. We reject the false equivalence narrative that "both sides" have any kind of equal validity in their aims, and instead encourage our community to proudly and openly declare solidarity with Palestine, a position that has long been stigmatized in this country. By rejecting the taboo of speaking up, we can demonstrate a market shift that forces the wealthy class to pay attention. For many of these corporations and organizations, their investments in Israel are a financial decision uninterested in the plight of those affected. When we take collective action that affects their bottom line, we force big companies into dropping contracts and cutting ties.
What does the pledge mean?
Our boycott campaign works by targeting both the demand and the supply of Israeli goods and other products from brands complicit in the genocide and apartheid of Palestine. We're looking for people to participate in this boycott, not just as individual consumers, but also as business owners and community leaders. For that reason, we have pledges for both sides of the market, as well as a cultural pledge for those who can show solidarity as a cultural institution instead.
Consumer Pledge
Designed for individual consumers. Any Baltimore resident can participate by signing this pledge.
Commitment to not purchase, support, or invest in any of the brands and products on our boycott list, and to divest any existing funds/support from the targets on the boycott list
Commitment to a cultural boycott and to not support any Israeli normalization projects that whitewash the genocide and apartheid
Business Pledge
Designed for small businesses who sell products or inventory that could include brands or products on the boycott list
Commitment to terminate or not renew any existing contracts with Israeli companies or any priority targets on our boycott list
Commitment to not stock any inventory from the priority targets on our boycott list
Commitment to avoid supporting and to boycott to the fullest feasible extent any pressure targets on our boycott list
Commitment to the cultural boycott of apartheid normalization. See PACBI guidelines for more information.
Cultural Pledge
Designed for organizations and businesses which do not sell products relevant to our boycott list
Examples for organizations include unions, religious institutions, etc.
Examples for businesses include event venues, therapy clinics, artists, etc.
Commitment to terminate or not renew any existing contracts with Israeli companies or any other brands on our boycott list
Commitment to the cultural boycott of apartheid normalization. See PACBI guidelines for more information.
afb businesses
our partners & supporters
Here are just some of the 30+ local businesses that have signed our AFB business pledge!
boycott targets
Our boycott targets are separated into two categories: priority targets and pressure targets.
Priority targets must be completely boycotted. No exceptions! We choose these targets carefully to ensure that this is a feasible ask for most people. All AFB businesses must completely divest from these companies before we list them as fully "Apartheid-Free."
Pressure targets must be boycotted to the fullest feasible extent. These targets are harder or impossible to boycott completely because they hold monopolies or are the parent companies to a countless number of subsidiaries, but we ask signees to boycott to the fullest extent of their abilities.
Priority Targets
Israeli produce/wine
The AFB campaign calls for a total boycott of all Israeli produce and wine, due to its documented usage as a tool of displacement and ethnic cleansing by the Israeli state [1][2][3]. Some common examples include:
Popular Israeli brands, e.g. SodaStream, Ahava Dead Sea Minerals, etc.
Israeli produce exporters, e.g. Arava, Hadiklaim, Jaffa Oranges, Mehadrin, etc.
Israeli date companies, e.g. Jordan River, King Solomon Dates, etc.
Israeli pantry goods, e.g. Haddar, Osem, Tivall, etc.
Israeli tahini companies, e.g. Soom Foods, Little Sesame, Mighty Sesame, Seed+Mill, etc.
Israeli wineries, e.g. Barkan Wine, Yarden Winery, etc.
[1] Made in Israel: Agricultural Exports from Occupied Territories. Who Profits Research Center, Apr. 2014, https://www.whoprofits.org//writable/uploads/old/uploads/2018/06/old/made_in_israel_web_final.pdf.
[2] Forbidden Fruit. Who Profits Research Center, Apr. 2014, https://www.whoprofits.org/publications/report/24?forbidden-fruit.
[3] Occupation, Inc. Human Rights Watch, Jan. 2016, https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/01/19/occupation-inc/how-settlement-businesses-contribute-israels-violations
Fast food targets
McDonald's and Burger King both donated meals directly to the IOF [1][2] and McDonald's additionally sued BDS Malaysia for damages [3]. Read the full statement on McDonald's from BDS here.
Domino's Pizza, Papa John's, and Pizza Hut all donated food to the IOF and posted public support of the IOF [4][5][6].
Starbucks sued their own worker's union for expressing public support of the Palestinian cause [7] and have a documented history of extensive anti-union efforts [8][9].
[1] Bhaimiya, Sawdah. “McDonald’s Is Donating Thousands of Free Meals to the Israel Defence Forces and Citizens after Hamas Attacks.” Business Insider, Oct. 2023, https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-donating-thousands-meals-idf-israeli-citizens-hamas-attacks-2023.
[2] "Burger King to Distribute 128,000 in Vouchers to Israel Soldiers." Middle East Monitor, Apr. 2025, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250409-burger-king-to-distribute-128000-in-vouchers-to-israel-soldiers/.
[3] “McDonald’s Malaysia Sues Israel Boycott Movement for 1 Million in Damages.” Reuters, Dec. 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/mcdonalds-malaysia-sues-israel-boycott-movement-1-mln-damages-2023-12-30/.
[4] Kent, Charlotte. “Domino’s Israel Remove IDF Posts in Response to TCDSU Ending Sponsorship.” Trinity News, Feb. 2024, https://trinitynews.ie/2024/02/dominos-israel-remove-idf-posts-in-response-to-tcdsu-ending-sponsorship/.
[5] "Does Papa John’s support Israel? Facts behind franchise’s involvement." BrusselsMorning, Dec. 2025, https://brusselsmorning.com/does-papa-johns-support-israel-facts-behind-franchises-involvement/72358/
[6] Higham, Aliss. “Pizza Hut Faces Boycott Calls for Feeding Israeli Soldiers.” Newsweek, Jan. 2024, https://www.newsweek.com/pizza-hut-boycott-israel-support-1862489.
[7] Durbin, Dee-Ann. “Starbucks, Workers United Union Sue Each Other in Standoff over Pro-Palestinian Social Media Post.” Associated Press, Oct. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-lawsuit-israel-palestinian-f212a994fef67f122854a4df7e5d13f5.
[8] Sainato, Michael. “Starbucks Launches Aggressive Anti-Union Effort as Upstate New York Stores Organize.” The Guardian, Nov. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/nov/23/starbucks-aggressive-anti-union-effort-new-york-stores-organize.
[9] Sainato, Michael. “Starbucks Creating ‘Culture of Fear’ as It Fires Dozens Involved in Union Efforts.” The Guardian, Aug. 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/25/starbucks-union-employees-fired.
Grocery products
Coca-Cola's exclusive franchisee in Israel operates out of the Atarot settlement industrial zone [1]. Like all settlement industrial zones, the Atarot industrial zone is used as a tool for the forcible displacement of Palestinians [2], and the businesses that operate on them are committing crimes against international law [3]. Read the full statement from BDS on the Coca-Cola boycott here.
Pepsi is the namesake of the PepsiCo parent company, a major pressure target of our campaign. See our pressure targets list for more information.
SodaStream is an Israeli company. Like Coca-Cola, it also operated out of a settlement industrial zone [4] until moving its plant to the Naqab desert, where it now directly colludes with the Israeli state in its ethnic cleansing campaign known as the Prawer Plan [5].
Sabra Hummus is a product of PepsiCo. Until 2024, it was a partnership between PepsiCo and Strauss Group, an Israeli food company which proudly boasts its support of the IOF Golani Brigade [6]. Palestinians have long called for the boycott of Sabra [7]. We continue our boycott of Sabra to pressure PepsiCo into understanding that their continued actions against the Palestinian people will not be ignored.
Wonderful Pistachios is the namesake of the Wonderful Company, a major pressure target of our campaign. See our pressure targets list for more information.
[1] The Central Bottling Company (Coca Cola Israel). Who Profits Research Center, June 2023, https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/4081.
[2] Abdallah, Maha. Atarot Settlement: The Industrial Key to Permanently Erase Palestine. Al-Haq, June 2020, https://www.alhaq.org/publications/16929.html.
[3] Occupation, Inc. Human Rights Watch, Jan. 2016, https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/01/19/occupation-inc/how-settlement-businesses-contribute-israels-violations
[4] Production in Settlements: The Case of SodaStream. Who Profits Research Center, Jan. 2011, https://www.whoprofits.org/publications/report/57?production-in-settlements.
[5] Beale, Andrew. “New SodaStream Factory Could Help Destroy Bedouin Agriculture.” The Electronic Intifada, Apr. 2014, https://electronicintifada.net/content/new-sodastream-factory-could-help-destroy-bedouin-agriculture/13182.
[6] Mardikian, Rose. “Boycott Campaign: Sabra.” Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), https://www.cjpme.org/fs_239. Accessed 7 Sept. 2025.
[7] Naqvi, Abbas. “My Hummus Tastes like Apartheid.” The Palestine Chronicle, Nov. 2010, https://www.palestinechronicle.com/my-hummus-tastes-like-apartheid/.
Tech targets
Dell and HP directly provide the Israeli state the technological means to conduct its apartheid [1][2]. HP is even named directly in the UN's OHCHR report on the matter [3].
Intel is a target of the global BDS movement. Read their statement here.
Xbox is a product of Microsoft, a pressure target of the campaign also directly named in the UN's OHCHR report [3]. See more information in our pressure targets list.
Disney+ is a target of the global BDS movement. Read the statement on their boycott targets list for more information.
ExpressVPN is owned by an Israeli tech company, Kape Technologies, [4] with ties to Israeli spyware [5].
Wix is an Israeli tech company. It provides the same service that Israel has a documented history of denying to Palestinians, and profits from the land and resources stolen from Palestinians.
[1] Technologies of Control: The Case of Hewlett Packard. Who Profits Research Center, Dec. 2011, https://www.whoprofits.org/publications/report/59?technologies-of-control.
[2] Zahzah, Omar. "Dell’s complicity in Israel’s genocide." Electronic Intifada, Jul. 2025, https://electronicintifada.net/content/dells-complicity-israels-genocide/50824
[3] From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967. Francesca Albenese, 2025, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session59/advance-version/a-hrc-59-23-aev.pdf.
[4] "Outcry over ExpressVPN ownership: What the Israeli connection means for user privacy." Middle East Eye, Sep. 2025, https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/outcry-over-expressvpn-ownership-what-israeli-connection-means-user
[5] "Everything You Need to Know About ExpressVPN’s Israeli Ownership." Boycat, Sep. 2025, https://blog.boycat.io/posts/expressvpn-israeli-ownership-1b-privacy-risk.
Retail targets
Reebok
Zara
Other targets
Re/Max
Martin's Caterers
Pressure Targets
Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Cisco
Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have extensive culpability in Israeli apartheid. All three are named directly in the OHCHR report by the UN.
From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967. Francesca Albenese, 2025, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session59/advance-version/a-hrc-59-23-aev.pdf.
“What Is Project Nimbus, and Why Are Google Workers Protesting Israel Deal?” Al-Jazeera, Apr. 2024, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/23/what-is-project-nimbus-and-why-are-google-workers-protesting-israel-deal.
“‘Order from Amazon’: How Tech Giants Are Storing Mass Data for Israel’s War.” +972 Magazine, Aug. 2024, https://www.972mag.com/cloud-israeli-army-gaza-amazon-google-microsoft/.
Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia
Destination: Occupation. Amnesty International, Jan. 2019, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/01/destination-occupation-digital-tourism-israel-illegal-settlements/.
Involvement of Business Enterprises in the Commission of International Crimes Connected to Israel’s Unlawful Occupation, Racial Segregation and Apartheid Regime in the OPT: Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT. Amnesty International, Dec. 2024, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ior40/8847/2024/en/.
Mondelez International and Nestle
PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company
The Wonderful Company
Sadaf
New Item
Sign the AFB Pledge!
Join us in making a difference by signing the pledge to boycott Israeli apartheid and divesting from genocide.
Sign the Pledge
frequently asked questions
There's some questions we get asked quite a lot! We've listed our answers to the most common ones we hear below.
Is Israel actually committing apartheid?
Yes! The Rome statute of the International Criminal Court defines apartheid as "inhumane acts of a character similar to those referred to in paragraph 1, committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime." This is exactly the crime that Israel has an extremely well documented history of committing in Palestine. Countless of independent, international human rights organizations have reported on this, from Amnesty International to Human Rights Watch. The leaders of the South African anti-apartheid movement themselves have called what Israel does to Palestine an apartheid! In a 2014 Huffington Post piece, Desmond Tutu wrote, "I know first-hand that Israel has created an apartheid reality within its borders and through its occupation." To call it anything less than apartheid would be a great distortion of the truth.
Sources and More Information:
UN General Assembly, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (last amended 2010), ISBN No. 92-9227-227-6, UN General Assembly, 17 July 1998, https://www.refworld.org/legal/constinstr/unga/1998/64553 [accessed 22 June 2026]
Tutu, Desmond. "Presbyterian General Assembly Biennial Meeting: My Message on Israel and Palestine." Huffington Post, Jun. 2014, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/presbyterian-general-assembly_b_5499395
El Ad, Hagai. We are Israel’s largest human rights group – and we are calling this apartheid, The Guardian. Jan. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/12/israel-largest-human-rights-group-apartheid
"Israel/OPT: Israel is committing apartheid, says UN Special Rapporteur." Amnesty International, Mar. 2022, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/03/israel-opt-israel-is-committing-apartheid-says-un-special-rapporteur/
Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crime against humanity. Amnesty International, Feb. 2022, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/5141/2022/en/
A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution. Human Rights Watch, Mar. 2022, https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution
Is boycotting Israel antisemitic?
The accusation of antisemitism has often been lobbed at the Palestinian-led, international BDS movement. This is a deflection. Firstly, being Israeli is not the same as being Jewish. Not all Israelis are Jewish and not all Jews are Israeli. Secondly, equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism is dangerous. The implication that being against an ethno-supremacist colonialist project is somehow discriminatory against Jews is deeply antisemitic in itself. Our partners at Jewish Voice for Peace endorsed the international call for the BDS movement back in 2015. You can read their full statement on it here.
Finally, BDS targets complicity, not identity. According to the BNC, Israeli companies may be non-complicit if they are (1) not implicated in Israel's military occupation, apartheid, or settler colonialism; and (2) publicly recognize Palestinian rights under international law, primarily the right of refugees to return in accordance with UN resolution 194. The BNC further states, "As far as we know, no Israeli company meets these two conditions. Accordingly, the BDS movement has called for boycotting and divesting from all Israeli companies unless they meet the above two conditions."
Why isn't [brand] on this list?
What is a targeted boycott campaign?
The AFB campaign is a targeted boycott campaign, following the principles of the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This means that, like with the BDS campaign, we focus on a limited list of products and brands to target our boycott on. This targets list is based on factors such as their level of complicity, their brand presence in Baltimore, and how much pressure they are already facing from similar boycott campaigns. The fewer targets there are, the more people are able to join the movement, and with more people comes greater pressure on these targets.
Image transcription: TARGETED VERSUS UNTARGETED BOYCOTTS / We focus our boycotts on a SMALL NUMBER of companies/products for MAXIMUM IMPACT. / BDS
Where can I find an alternative to [Target Name]?
Does my business have to be fully divested before I can sign?
No! Your pledge is a commitment to fully divest from Israeli apartheid, but we understand that not all businesses can make this change to their supply chain immediately. When you sign the pledge, you are making a commitment that you will start your efforts to divest completely. With your permission, we'll publicly announce your pledge on our social media. Then we'll work with you to find alternatives for any products or services you need to divest from.
Once you have divested completely, congratulations! We'll give you a free poster to hang in your store window and update our map to list your business as fully divested.
Image description: Photo from inside a store displaying their AFB poster and anti-ICE poster. The anti-ICE poster reads "ICE OUT OF BALTIMORE! ICE FUERA DE BALTIMORE!". The AFB poster reads "PROUD PARTNER / APARTHEID FREE BALTIMORE / THIS BUSINESS HAS NO BUSINESS WITH ISRAEL / SIGN THE PLEDGE" and a QR code to this website.
What is the difference between a priority target and a pressure target?
Priority targets are our targets which must be boycotted completely with no exceptions, whereas pressure targets are difficult or sometimes impossible to boycott completely. With pressure targets, we ask signees to avoid them to the fullest possible extent, but we recognize that this is not entirely possible for everyone. For example, it is not possible to boycott Amazon completely, because they own so many of the web servers used across the Internet. You can still apply pressure on them by not ordering anything from Amazon and canceling any existing Prime and Audible subscriptions though.
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