I realize that I am a few weeks late in mentioning this particular video but this is by far one of the best BDS flashmobs I’ve ever seen. Watch three dozen activists sing and dance to their own version of the hit song “Don’t Stop Believing” in New York City’s Grand Central Station. Brought to you by Adalah NY.
Please note that this is a silenced version of the video. During its first week on YouTube, the video was taken down due to copyright infringement. YouTube received complaints that the music violated copyright laws even though it was sung live and, although based on an actual song, contained its own variation of words and verses to make it relate to the growing BDS movement.
On 5 April 2011, Adalah NY released a statement concerning this apparent censorship:
Hannah Mermelstein from Adalah-NY commented, “The Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement is growing in influence and power as evidenced by the popularity of our video. We are dismayed that our video has been removed from YouTube and are working to make it available again. We fear that this is but another example of attempts to silence calls for justice and Palestinian rights. But the BDS movement to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against Palestinians will not be silenced.”
In January, YouTube removed a Saint Louis Boycott Motorola Flash Mob video that parodied the Beyonce/Lady Gaga song “Telephone” as the video reached 35,000 views. As was the case with the Saint Louis flash mob video, there are tens of parody versions of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” currently posted on YouTube.
StandWithUs and Captain Israel: BDS is a “barbaric destroyer snake”
StandWithUs is serious about their Captain Israel campaign. Since January 2011, StandWithUs has been publishing Captain Israel comic books to deflect criticism against the state of Israel by not-so-subtly ignoring historical accuracy and smearing nonviolent solidarity campaigns against the occupation.
So far, only two comics have been released. The first issue, published in January, presents a modified version of Israel’s history. The second issue, released in May, demonizes the BDS movement as an anti-Semitic tactic. In the still unreleased third issue, Captain Israel “confronts the UN”.
I’ve had a few run-ins with StandWithUs in the past and from what I gather, the organization is committed to justifying even the most unlawful of Israel’s actions by excusing the occupation as a necessity to protect Jews from further global persecution. Although it describes itself as an educational group, the organization is notorious for its twisting of facts, its “thuggish smear tactics“, and its explicitly negative attitude toward Islam which it regularly identifies as the source of today’s hostilities against Jewish existence. In fact, a 2009 report reveals that StandWithUs receives funding from backers of anti-Muslim groups and propagandists that promote increased military action against Muslim-dominated Arab countries. [Read more...]