Groups attempt to force BDS initiatives in Pittsburgh

After a failed attempt to force the city of Pittsburgh to divest from Israel, the Pittsburgh chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is trying a new tack to boycott and isolate the Jewish state.

At the end of January, Pgh DSA launched the “No Appetite for Apartheid” campaign.

Part of a multi-city program, the campaign “promotes the boycott of food products that are produced in israel, are culturally-appropriative, and/or are made by mega-conglomerates that financially uphold the Zionist occupation of Palestine,” according to Pgh DSA’s Instagram page.

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And while the group claims it has already collected pledges to avoid Israel products from 250 consumers and from seven local stores — mostly in the East End — those numbers may be suspect.

One store listed in the initial rollout, Bloomfield’s Baby Loves Tacos, told the Chronicle that it was a “huge mistake” to sign onto the campaign. In an email, owner Zack Shell said that the restaurant previously donated to several nonprofits that provide free meals to those in need, including “the group of people who brought this to us.”

Shell said the restaurant was in the middle of its lunch rush when organizers stopped by asking if Baby Loves Tacos carried items from a list of products. The restaurant did not carry the food on the list. Baby Loves Tacos signed onto the campaign, but Shell admits they “didn’t realize what exactly this was.”

When the nature of the campaign was brought to their attention, Baby Loves Tacos asked to have its name removed from the list, something organizers said they would do, although as of press time, Baby Loves Tacos was still listed as one of the seven business signatories on Pgh DSA’s Instagram account.

“We really apologize for the misunderstanding and mistake on our part,” Shell wrote to the Chronicle. “We have always been prone to supporting our local neighborhood aid groups in providing meals/food. This clearly is something else and is a big learning lesson for us.”

The six other establishments that signed onto the No Appetite for Apartheid campaign are Bloomfield’s Big Idea Book Store, brothmonger and Khalil’s restaurant; Bantha Tea Bar and Kindred Spirit Tattoo Company in Garfield; and Novaria Coffee Company in the Strip District.

Of the six, Big Idea Book Store and Kindred Spirit Tattoo Company are not restaurants, which would limit their interaction with foods from Israel.

The Chronicle reached out to these six businesses but received no responses to emails and calls.

According to the campaign’s website, volunteers will be canvassing in Oakland and Lawrenceville over the next few weeks attempting to get more consumers to sign its pledge.

Products that No Appetite for Apartheid and Pgh DSA are attempting to boycott include Israeli produce such as dates, avocados, potatoes, figs and herbs; beverages from several companies including Coca-Cola, Carmel Winery and Golan Heights Winery; hummus from Sabra, Tribe and Athenos; and Mighty Sesame and Soom Foods tahini. The list also includes various exporters it is urging businesses not to support.

No Appetite for Apartheid was not the only local organization recently promoting a BDS agenda in Pittsburgh.

Sumud, a group of pro-Palestinian protestors, interrupted a University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees meeting last week. The group demanded the university disclose details of its endowment and divest any financial ties it might have with Israel.

University police officers carried out one protester and escorted four others from the meeting.

“The protesters in attendance at the Board of Trustees meeting did not follow repeated requests to cease their disruption of the meeting,” University of Pittsburgh spokesperson Jared Stonesifer told the Chronicle in an email. “After several warnings, they were escorted out of the room so the meeting could proceed.”

Sumud is not a registered student group. Its harassment of university officials is a continuation of behavior of various anti-Israel groups that began following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. Disruptions have included two encampments, protests outside of Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel’s home, as well as other protests. PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.