Many music organisations, including labels, promoters and music organisations, have joined the Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).
The campaign is an offshoot of the Boycott and Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and was established in 2004 to oversee the movement’s boycott of culture, arts and academic sectors.
Groups that supported the campaign include Dark Entries, Techno Queers, Dweller, Noise Not Music, Night Slugs, 8-ball community, Gold Bolus Recordings, NYC Noise, and FIST.
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A statement on the Gaza Writers Against the War website reads: “PACBI (Palestinian Movement for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) advocates for a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions due to their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of the rights of Palestinians under international law.”
It continues: “Cultural institutions and communities are part of the ideological and institutional foundations of the Israeli regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid against Palestinians. Israeli cultural institutions (performing arts organizations, music groups, film organizations, writers’ unions, festivals, etc.) have cast their fate in the hands of Israel’s hegemonic Zionist regime.”
There have been numerous artist pledges and campaigns in support of a ceasefire and Palestinian freedom, including an open letter signed by 300 electronic musicians last October in “urgent opposition to Israel’s brutal and ongoing attacks on Gaza.”
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Recently, over 100 artists, musicians and actors signed an open letter to Keir Starmer calling on him to end arms sales to Israel if elected Prime Minister, stating: “https://mixmag.net/read/ We the signatories urge you, if you become Prime Minister, to stand against the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel and commit to ending arms sales to Israel.”
Read PACBI’s full statement here.
Jamal Johnson is a Digital Intern at Mixmag. Follow him on Instagram.
