For more than 20 months, the East End Food Co-op has been the focal point of a campaign that targets Israel and, by extension, our local Jewish community. In July 2024, the EEFC Union 667 voted to “endorse the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and commit to transforming the EEFC into an ‘Apartheid Free Zone,’” and began collecting petition signatures to force the board to act. Since that time, the union has galvanized segments of the Co-op community into a singular, relentless focus on delegitimizing Israel and its supporters.

At monthly board meetings, within the aisles of the Co-op and across social media, Jewish members have faced hostile rhetoric and damaging misperceptions. This is not merely a policy disagreement; it is a direct challenge to the safety and inclusion of our community. Locally and globally, we are seeing a deeply troubling rise in hate crimes and harassment, with incidents targeting Jewish students and community members because of their identity reaching an all-time high.

In November 2025, the Co-op’s union submitted the petition with the required signatures to force the board to vote on the BDS referendum targeting Israel. While BDS groups often claim their goal is to support human rights, in reality their movement seeks to shut down Israeli-Palestinian cooperation and eliminate Israel. Along the way, BDS campaigns often fuel hatred, harassment and even violence against Jews around the world.

Many Jewish Co-op members have devoted significant time speaking out against these boycott efforts in the EEFC. They have written letters, attended meetings and engaged with the board to explain the deep harm a BDS referendum causes — not just as a matter of international trade, but to the sense of belonging for Jewish member-owners and shoppers. Throughout this process, our community has endured numerous meetings marked by rhetoric that isolates rather than fosters dialogue. This debate has ultimately become about the right of every member to participate in public life free from intimidation. Ironically, the Co-op carries only a handful of Israeli products — including an olive oil produced by a joint peace initiative of Israeli and Palestinian women.

At its Feb. 16 board meeting, the board had an opportunity to vote against moving this referendum forward. Instead, the majority of the board, in a vote 5-3, voted to hold a “non-binding” referendum. While technically symbolic, this action keeps the door open for further escalation. I am deeply disappointed by the board members who voted for this. A responsible process should center on facts and civility, preserving a space where vendors are engaged on fair terms, and staff can work without the burden of discrimination. Our local economy thrives when we spend our money at places that reflect shared values of transparency and respect.

I want to thank the three board members who voted against a referendum for taking a principled stand, and recognize the many community members who fought this fight with resolve. This discussion has underscored the need for governance that protects all customers and maintains a neutral, inclusive environment for the entire community.

It is important to understand what is at stake. According to the New York Times, the committee that coordinates BDS campaigns globally includes Hamas and other U.S.-designated terrorist groups. And the BDS movement called the massacre, torture, rape and kidnapping of civilians in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, a “powerful armed reaction.” Even in the form of a “non-binding” measure, this violent extremism posing as human rights activism has no place in our neighborhood food co-op.

The strongest defense against this kind of polarization is an informed and engaged community. We must ground our response in the facts: Israel is a vibrant democracy with a diverse population, including Arab citizens who participate at every level of government and business. On Oct. 7, Israel was attacked by thousands of Hamas terrorists and even some Palestinian civilians, who dragged Israel into an extended existential war in which it was forced to fight genocidal enemies across Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria and Iraq. The war in Gaza was so horrific mainly because Hamas and other terrorists with ties to the BDS movement spent 16 years ruthlessly militarizing civilian areas across the entire territory.

For those who want to support Israel and a truly inclusive economy, the choice is simple: Prioritize purchasing Israeli products and shop where you feel valued as a customer. Supporting retailers that uphold inclusive policies reinforces the principle that commerce should be a bridge, not a barrier. We can choose to support businesses that respect Jewish and Israeli people and stop shopping at a grocery store that has failed to protect its Jewish customers and allowed an environment of discrimination and hostility to flourish, as many have already done. For those who choose to remain members of the Co-op, please vote “no” on the upcoming non-binding referendum and encourage others to do the same.

At a time when communities are re-examining how they treat their neighbors, our choices matter. The best way to counter the extremism and hate that has taken hold in the EEFC is to stay informed, respectful and unyielding in our commitment to and demand for inclusion. PJC

Julie Paris is Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs, an international nonpartisan education organization that supports Israel and combats antisemitism.