Israel Boycott Campaign Fails at the Davis Food Coop

In the fall of 2009, a local group with links to the Global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, began to collect signatures at the Davis Food Coop that would have the Coop's membership vote on whether the food store should participate in a campaign to boycott the State of Israel.  In February, 2010, based on advice from its lawyers, the Coop's Board of Directors issued a resolution declaring the initiative "not lawful" as required under the organization's by-laws.  In March, the Board went a step further and resolved that the initiative was also "not proper," another condition required for inclusion on the Coop ballot. 

Board Action Supported by Membership Vote

In May, 2010, the Coop held its annual election for Board of Directors.  Six candidates were listed in the official voter pamphlet for six board openings, including Michael Pach, a pro-BDS candidate running on the premise of making the Coop more "democratic."  His candidacy was challenged by write-in candidate Frank Fox, who openly criticized the attempted politicization of an important community institution.  Despite the disadvantage of being a write-in candidate, Frank Fox earned nearly twice as many votes as Michael Pach.  Fox is currently serving as an alternate director, and Pach, the lowest vote-getter, did not qualify for any position.

The Community Response

The failed boycott campaign generated a tremendous amount of controversy and division, both at the Coop and in the community more generally.  The local newspaper, the Davis Enterprise, was inundated with letters to the editor and guest editorials, disproportionately against the boycott campaign.  The persistent presence of BDS campaigners at the store generated a negative atmosphere for many shoppers, and sales declined.