The Canadian BDS Coalition is “comprised of groups in Canada that support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel’s system of settler-colonialism, occupation, and apartheid towards the Palestinian people.”
On June 13, 2019 the Canadian BDS Coalition issued the following statement:
#SayNO @Raptors to #Tanenbaum offer of a #freetrip to #Zionist #Apartheid #Israeli-state
The team’s 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 Canadian Football League’s 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 in the Jewish state that “If we win the NBA championship, I will come with the Toronto Raptors to visit the Holy Land.”
The Canadian BDS Coalition calls on each of the Raptors Players to say NO to this offer by Tanebaum. To say no to being used as an ambassador to sports-wash an aggressive ongoing colonization complete with apartheid, genocide and war crimes.
To learn more about cultural including sports boycott check the Palestinian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel guidelines… Stay tuned for more actions.