NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE ISRAEL
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On Friday, March 15, the Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine Israel (NMJPI) will be flyering outside Scotiabank in downtown St. Catharines (185 St. Paul St. at James St.) for customers to divest (withdraw their money) because of its investment in Israel's Elbit Systems. This is part of a Canada-wide Day of Action of the Canadian BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) Coalition. Volunteers will be flyering between 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in shifts.
Elbit Systems provides Israel with 85 per cent of their drones and land-based equipment. According to Elbit's own website Scotiabank's 1832 Asset Management is the second biggest shareholder, after their chairperson. The BDS movement is a global campaign to end Israeli apartheid modelled on the movement that ended apartheid in South Africa.
Sara Hesse, a graduate student who designed NMJPI's flyer, said “As a human being I cannot sit back and watch what is happening in Gaza without doing anything. Small actions like choosing a bank have a big impact. A lot of Canadians don’t realize how our country and institutions are complicit in Palestinian suffering. A lot of us feel helpless, but we can all divest from institutions like Scotiabank that aid the bloodshed in Gaza. Separate yourself from enablers.”
Desmond Sequeira, a Scotiabank customer and co-founder of NMJPI, explained "Like a number of my friends have already done, I will shortly have to divest from Scotia unless Scotia divests from Elbit's genocidal mission real soon."
Ineke Medcalf, also a co-founder of NMJPI, said “Investing in Elbit is participating in the genocide of a defenceless people who have no safe place to go. This is supporting Israel's goal of wiping Gaza off the map and emptying Palestinians from the West Bank. It is time to see Palestinians as fellow human beings worthy of the same rights and freedom from fear. Down with the walls, blockade, occupation, and apartheid system that feeds hate and violence.”
The Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine Israel (NMJPI) was founded in 2020 and has organized demonstrations, letter writing, film screenings, fundraisers, and other actions to bring about permanent peace for all in Palestine and Israel. NMJPI believes the most effective vehicle to accomplish this goal is the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting the Government and businesses of Israel and the illegal settlements encroaching on Palestinian land.
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