01/13/25 "We Stand With Jack" Petition Launched by Workers

Workers at the Easthampton and Northampton stores launch a public petition in solidarity with their fired coworker and for the right to political expression. Sign the petition here, and donate to the worker hardship fund here (please note that workers have asked that any donations be matched by donations to Palestinian relief--see link for details).

01/02/25 Worker Fired for BDS Pin

Northampton Prepared Foods Shift Leader, Jack, is fired for refusing on principle to remove a pin reading "BDS." The pin refers to the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement that aims to end Israeli apartheid. Since the vote on the apartheid-free proposal, workers have faced repercussions for wearing pins in support of Palestine. Management has curtailed the use of personal pins of all kinds and disciplined multiple workers for wearing pro-Palestine pins.

11/11/24 When You Erase Us - The Gazette

Guest columnist, Co-op employee, and AFC organizer Mona Hisham Shadi writes in the Hampshire Gazette about the impact of disciplinary against employees for solidarity with Palestine. Read the full column here.

11/9/24 Dress Code Crackdown Follows "Apartheid Free Co-op" Vote - The Shoestring

Shelby Lee for the Shoestring reports on limitations of employee speech at the Co-op. Read the full article here.

10/31/24 Advisory Poll Results Released

River Valley Co-op releases the results of the month-long member advisory poll on the Apartheid-Free Co-op proposal. Of the 3,500 or so members who voted, 22% voted in favor of the boycott, and 78% voted with the Board’s recommendation against it. These results set an important benchmark for the organizing the campaign has accomplished so far and the task that remains ahead of us to win an apartheid-free co-op. Read the Board President's full statement here.

787 members voted in favor of boycotting Israeli products until Israel complies with international law. This number represents significantly more household members of the Co-op, far more in the wider community, and a new constituency for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions in the valley. This level of support for BDS is a direct result of the standouts, tabling, letters-to-the-editor, and individual discussions that all the supporters of this campaign took on. At the same time, there are many more people in our community who remain to be organized, and apartheid and genocide remain the order of the day in Palestine. Both of these facts mean that our organizing for BDS continues, at the Co-op and beyond.

10/30/24 Special Membership Meeting

Following a petition by the Apartheid-Free Co-op campaign in accordance with the Co-op's bylaws, River Valley Co-op organizes a special membership meeting to discuss the Apartheid-Free Co-op Proposal. Over 300 Co-op members attend over Zoom to hear a 5-minute presentation by the AFC campaign, a 5-minute presentation by the RVC Board of Directors, and 30 minutes of alternating member debate. Voting on the Apartheid-Free Co-op proposal closes at midnight.

10/22/24 River Valley Co-op member 76 voting "Yes" - The Gazette

 Early Co-op member and AFC supporter Jean Frances explains why she is voting "Yes" on becoming an apartheid-free co-op. Read the full article here.

10/18/24 "Apartheid Free Co-op" Proposal Goes to a Vote - The Shoestring

Dusty Christenson for the Shoestring reports on the Apartheid-Free Co-op proposal and membership vote. Read the full article here.

9/30/24 RVC Announces Special Membership Meeting and Advisory Poll

River Valley Co-op’s Board of Directors announce the Special Membership Meeting to be held on October 30th, from 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom. The notice was sent via email to all the official representatives of memberships from the email address vote@simplyvoting.com. The Board also announces an Advisory Poll on the Apartheid-Free Petition, and recommends against becoming an apartheid-free store. Voting opens on September 30, and remains open until October 30th. See the full text of the email here. 

9/27/24 Co-op deshelving campaign part of global anti-apartheid movement - The Gazette

Guest columnist and AFC organizer Molly Merrett writes in the Hampshire Gazette in support of the AFC campaign and the global movement it is a part of. Read the full column here.

8/27/24 Special Membership Meeting Petition Delivered

The AFC delivers a petition, signed by members of the Co-op, calling for a special membership meeting to discuss the Apartheid-Free Co-op proposal, in accordance with the Co-op's bylaws. 

8/1/24 Apartheid-Free Co-op Petition Launched

In response to the Palestinian civil society call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israeli apartheid, a group of member-owners, workers, and community members publish a petition for River Valley Co-op in Easthampton and Northampton to de-shelve Israeli made and sourced goods until Israel complies with international law. Sign the petition here, and learn more about BDS here.