October 22, 2019

The Canadian BDS Coalition is pleased to announce that the #RaptorsDontGo campaign has been successful. Our campaign was launched in June 2019, immediately following the Raptors victory in the NBA championship; and after team co-owner Larry Tanenbaum received extensive coverage in the Israeli media stating he would bring the team to visit Israel if they won the championship. The Israeli Embassy in Ottawa highlighted the issue, and tweeted the Raptors promising “we’ll call you…to help with the arrangements”.

However, the 2019-20 NBA new season has now begun and there has been no reported public team visit; and continued silence from all of the team owners on this issue.

The campaign from the onset seemed to strike a chord with many people, both in Canada and globally. Although the Israeli lobby has engaged in other sportswashing events, this particular attempt struck many as an incredibly blatant and crude exploitation of a popular victory for an overt political agenda.

#RaptorsDontGo took off on social media and the Coalition would like to thank all of the individuals and groups who helped the campaign become so popular so quickly. Our petition gathered over 6500 signatures, a parallel petition in the U.S., started by CodePink, had over 2700 people sign on, and Jewish Voice for Peace also picked up the campaign on social media.

The Chair of BDS Vancouver, Aiyanas Ormond, stated in an open letter: “Around the world poor and oppressed people have embraced basketball as a sport of the people, and basketball players, many of whom come from poor and struggling backgrounds, have an important history of taking progressive positions and giving back to their communities. From Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Russel’s stand with Mohammed Ali against the draft and the Vietnam War to public and collective statements against police brutality against Black people in America, NBA players have stood on the side of social and racial justice.”

Why exactly the Raptors team never went on the “promised trip” may have been the result of several factors, not the least of which was the quick and overwhelmingly negative response by so many basketball fans. This must surely have been noticed by the team’s owners – Bell 37.5%, Rogers 37.5% and Tanenbaum’s company Kilmer Sports 25%. Although Tanenbaum’s entity may not be impacted by public opinion on this issue, Bell and Rogers certainly are and have their broader business agenda to consider. Also, the protests that happened in Israel after the police shooting of an Ethiopian teenager on June 30, 2019, some referencing slogans of the Black Lives Matter movement, would have been a politically damaging backdrop for such a team visit.

The Canadian BDS Coalition is grateful that this visit did not materialize, as it would have given legitimacy to Israel’s war crimes. We feel the #RaptorsDontGo campaign also demonstrated the strength of popular grassroots campaigns that can mobilize to achieve justice for Palestinians. As with the Boycott Puma campaign, that calls out that company’s sponsorship of the Israeli Football Association which includes teams from the illegal settlements, the push-back on sportswashing of Israel’s dispossession of a whole nation and people is a critical part of the struggle for Palestinian rights.

Check out articles

Activists declare victory in #RaptorsDontGo campaign in Mondoweiss by Marion Kawas on October 23, 2019

RaptorsDontGo Campaign Announces Victory! in the Palestine Chronicle by Marion Kawas on October 24, 2019

#RaptorsDontGo Say No to Brand Israel Sports-washing: A Success!!!

jordana — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:53:46 +0000

Breaking news, October 22 The Raptors did not go! Check out statement here. Read more in Mondoweiss

The Canadian BDS Coalition calls on each of the Raptors to say NO to this offer by Tanenbaum. Say no to being used as an ambassador to sports-wash an aggressive ongoing colonization complete with apartheid, genocide and war crimes.

CLICK HERE TO: SIGN AND SHARE PETITION to Toronto Raptor Players and Coach. We have reached over 6K signatures.

Updates:

Message from Israeli Citizens to the Toronto Raptors: Please do not help Israel whitewash its occupation and apartheid crimes

Roger Waters Add His Voice to #RaptorsDontGo

NOTE: June 27, 2019: The Canadian BDS Coalition earlier this week officially requested clarification from all the owners of Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE), the parent body of the Toronto Raptors, as to whether a trip to Israel for the team was under consideration or had already been approved. To date, no response has been received, but we will post any answer from them when available. In the absence of a reply confirming that such a trip will NOT be happening, we will continue our campaign to say #RaptorsDontGo to Israel.

Owners of MLSE are Bell 37.5%, Rogers 37.5% and Kilmer Sports (holding company of Larry Tanenbaum) 25%.

Read more: July 1, 2019, Mondoweiss article by Marion Kawas Sports-washing and the Toronto Raptors

Our campaign #SayNo #SkipTheTrip is gaining momentum with CodePink & Jewish Voices for Peace on board. And more media covering it, including Quds News Network and the Palestine Chronicle.

Toronto Raptors: Please #SkipTheTrip to Israel

Background

The Raptors billionaire co-owner, Larry Tanenbaum, said he would bring @Raptors to visit if they win the @NBA title, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Tanebaum a founder of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which is the parent company of the Raptors as well as the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, the CFL Toronto Argonauts. He also currently serves as the board chairman of the NBA, and as a member of the board of governors of the NHL and Major League Soccer.

Israel’s Sport 5 reported last week that during a low-key visit to Israel in April, Tanenbaum told several people he met that “If we win the NBA championship, I will come with the Toronto Raptors to visit the Holy Land.”

The Call

The Canadian BDS Coalition calls on each of the Raptors players to say NO to this offer by Tanenbaum. Say no to being used as an ambassador to sports-wash an aggressive ongoing colonization complete with apartheid, genocide and war crimes.

Learn about cultural including sports boycott check the Palestinian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel guidelines.

Follow the Canadian BDS Coalition at:

Twitter: @Canadian_BDS

Facebook: @BDSCoalition

Tweet, Tag

@Raptors @NBA

to be in touch with Raptors and other click HERE

CHECK OUT OPEN LETTER TO THE RAPTORS

Open Letter to Toronto Raptors:
“Please take this opportunity to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom..”

une 15, 2019

Dear Toronto Raptors,

We are writing to you as long-time fans to urge you to uphold Palestinian human rights and not to travel to Israel. Since 2004 Palestinian civil society organizations have called for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel until such a time as Israel recognizes the Right of Return of over 5 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants displaced in the process of Israeli colonization and occupation of Palestine; ends its occupation and colonization of the West Bank and its siege of Gaza; and dismantles the Apartheid system of racial discrimination and segregation for Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Around the world poor and oppressed people have embraced basketball as a sport of the people, and basketball players, many of whom come from poor and struggling backgrounds, have an important history of taking progressive positions and giving back to their communities. From Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Russel’s stand with Mohammed Ali against the draft and the Vietnam War to public and collective statements against police brutality against Black people in America, NBA players have stood on the side of social and racial justice.

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, its settlements and its Apartheid Wall are a war crime. The siege of Gaza, and the death and misery meted out on an effectively jailed civilian population, is a crime against humanity. And its system of racial discrimination and segregation is a form of Apartheid, as articulated by survivors of South African Apartheid including Desmond Tutu and Mandla Mandela (grandson of the great freedom fighter Nelson Mandela).

As NBA Champions, you have the opportunity to use your stature and influence to make the world a better place for the young people all over the world who admire you. Please take this opportunity to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom and liberation, and do not travel to Israel.

Aiyanas Ormond,
Coordinator, BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish Territories

Check out and share the following articles

Middle Eastern Monitor Please #SkipTheTrip to Israel, Toronto Raptors

The Palestine Chronicle Toronto Raptors: Please #SkipTheTrip to Israel

Thanks JEWISH VOICES FOR PEACE For Your One Question Poll

Take the poll HERE

An Open Letter to the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors

You have achieved something truly historic and Raptors fans are forever grateful, now please skip the White House and Doug Ford

Let Toronto NOW Magazine that along with Ford & Trump, they forgot “Bibi” Send comments HERE Tweet @nowToronto

RaptorsDontGo – Kick Out Apartheid!

#RaptorsDontGo Campaign Has Been Successful