We republish here the latest statement by BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality.

While Brazil’s new president wants to follow in the footsteps of Donald Trump moving the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem, and Rio de Janeiro’s new governor wants to buy Israeli waponized drones, Palestinian and Rio de Janeiro’s favelas’ social movements call for a joint and global struggle against racism and militarization.

We, Palestinian and Rio de Janeiro’s favelas’ social movements, have been resisting the militarization of our lives and struggling daily for equality, freedom and justice for decades. The election of Jair Bolsonaro as president of Brazil and Wilson Witzel as governor of Rio de Janeiro should further strengthen our ties of solidarity and joint struggle against oppression.

It doesn’t surprise us that the racist, militarist, LGBTQ-phobic, sexist and anti-indigenous extreme-right that is advancing in Brazil is aligned with the state of Israel, which since 1948 has implemented a brutal regime of apartheid, colonization and occupation against the indigenous people of Palestine.

While Jair Bolsonaro announces plans to follow in the footsteps of Donald Trump and move the Brazilian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Witzel and congressman Flávio Bolsonaro show interest in acquiring Israeli drones to be used to enhance repression as well as shoot and kill in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and beyond. For decades, the Palestinian people have been used by the Israeli state and complicit companies as a laboratory of repressive and murderous technologies and tactics, which are exported to the world, including Brazil, as “field-tested.”

The response to these growing links between the far-right regimes that challenge our lives, our dignity and our rights, must be a joint and global struggle against racism and militarization.  From the favelas in Rio de Janeiro to the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip, from the Brazilian poor neighborhoods to the Palestinian refugee camps, we call on all social movements and civil society organizations around the world to fight together with us:

  • For a comprehensive military embargo against the state of Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinian people and in defense of rights and struggles in Brazil – #DroneNão (#NoDrones).

  • For an end to the military intervention in Rio de Janeiro and the militarization that kills and represses people in favelas and poor neighborhoods in Brazil.

  • Against the growing fascism, racism and xenophobia in Brazil and beyond, and for holding states, corporations and institutions accountable for grave violations of human rights.

  • Against the move of the Brazilian embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and for an end to Israel’s apartheid, colonization and occupation!

Rio de Janeiro’s movements:

Communities and Movements Against Violence Network
Mothers and Families of victims of State Violence in Baixada Fluminense Network
Rio de Janeiro Youth Forum
Manguinhos Social Forum
Grita Baixada Forum
Maré 0800 Collective
Papo Reto Collective
Occupy Alemão
Fala Akari Collective
Maré Lives Collective
Black July
Campaign against Caveirão (armored vehicles)
Black Unified Movement
Group Torture Never More – RJ
International Committee For Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples – Brazilian Chapter

Palestinian movements:

Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) and all its members:

Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine
General Union of Palestinian Workers
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions
Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS)
Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO)
Palestinian National Institute for NGOs
Federation of Independent Trade Unions
Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition
Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Initiative
General Union of Palestinian Teachers
Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE)
General Union of Palestinian Women
General Union of Palestinian Writers
Union of Palestinian Farmers
Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign – Stop the Wall
Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC)
Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
Coalition for Jerusalem
National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba
Union of Public Employees in Palestine-Civil Sector
General Union of Palestinian Peasants
Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations
Union of Professional Associations
Women Campaign to Boycott Israeli Products
Palestinian Economic Monitor
Union of Youth Activity Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps
Agricultural Cooperatives Union
National Committee for Grassroots Resistance