Park Slope Food Cooperative Votes to Boycott Israeli Products
On Tuesday night, members of the Park Slope Food Cooperative decided to boycott Israeli products, a significant move following years of escalating tensions within the group.
Over 7,000 of the co-op’s 15,000 members participated in the meeting, which was moved to Zoom due to safety concerns voiced by Jewish attendees. Some reported feeling unsafe attending in person.
This turnout is said to be the largest in the co-op’s 53-year history and followed months of intense debate that even made its way into the streets of the Brooklyn community.
The boycott was approved with 67% in favor, 31% opposed, and 2% abstaining.
A previously heated discussion about whether the co-op should adopt the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement—specifically regarding a few Israeli food products—previously ignited an anti-Semitic incident at a prior meeting. This led to accusations against Jewish members of genocide support.
It’s interesting to note that the last time the co-op voted on an Israeli boycott was in 2012, involving just 2,000 participants. Ramon Mayzulen, a longtime member, mentioned that typical meetings draw between 50 to 200 attendees.
“It felt like a cozy Brooklyn living room before, but now every meeting feels like Judgment Day,” Mayslen remarked.
He added, “Regardless of our differing views, we should be able to express them without placing blame on one another.”
The agenda for the meeting included routine elections for committees, but the focus was largely on the boycott and the removal of products like Israeli hummus and matzo.
All members had the opportunity to vote, but the co-op board’s vote ultimately carries weight. Mayslen pointed out, “They can be influenced by member votes, yet they aren’t technically required to follow them.”
The initial vote aimed to lower the required percentage for product boycotts from 75% to a simple majority, which passed—61% for, 38% against, and 1% abstaining. This change had immediate implications for the boycott vote.
The second vote regarding the boycott itself also passed with the same 67% in favor, 31% against, and 2% abstaining. If the previous supermajority requirement had remained, the boycott wouldn’t have succeeded.
Prior to the meeting, co-op coordinators Ann Herpel and Matt Hoagland recognized the contentious atmosphere surrounding the BDS issue. They urged members to keep discussions respectful, as personal attacks and inflammatory remarks were unacceptable.
Members felt anxious as the vote approached, given the increased volatility in the discussions. Despite the outcome, many believed the process had divided rather than united them.
Member Barbara Mather expressed this sentiment, suggesting the attention the co-op received could have been used to amplify voices advocating for coexistence. “Instead, we’re just going around in circles, and that doesn’t really benefit anyone,” she concluded.
