Hamtramck, a city on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, made history on Tuesday by becoming the first US city to fully support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in solidarity with Palestinian rights. The city council passed a resolution that calls for refraining from purchasing goods and services from any vendor targeted by a BDS campaign, as well as divesting from the Israeli state and companies that sustain Israeli apartheid.
The resolution also encourages residents to participate in the boycott and supports student activism on college campuses. It emphasizes that support for BDS is not antisemitic, as many prominent BDS proponents are Jewish themselves. The Palestinian-led BDS movement is a non-violent initiative aimed at challenging Israel’s occupation and abuses of Palestinian human rights through economic, cultural, and academic boycotts, similar to the boycott campaigns against apartheid South Africa.
During a recorded meeting of the city council, members expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their efforts to end the Israeli occupation of their indigenous lands. One council member stated, “We need every angle we can take to help the Palestinians out. We clearly need to boycott using their products, and we cannot have our taxpayer money used to kill people.”
Hamtramck, as the only Muslim-majority city in the United States with an activist track record, has a history of taking progressive stances on social justice issues. In February, the city council passed a “Move the Money” resolution calling for a shift of funds from the military budget to essential social services programs. Last October, the council called for a ceasefire and renamed one of its main streets “Palestine Avenue” in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The decision to endorse BDS was described as a historic one by another city council member, who highlighted the disconnect between the American people’s opposition to war and the government’s actions. Mayor Amer Ghalib echoed this sentiment, stating, “Most of the American people are against the war, but our government does not listen to the concern of the people.”
The role of local governments in supporting BDS has been gaining momentum, with cities like Hayward and Richmond in California voting to divest from companies doing business in Israel. However, Hamtramck’s resolution stands out for its full support of the entire BDS movement. The BDS movement, which began in 2005, aims to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.
In Europe, cities like Dublin, Barcelona, and Oslo have also taken steps to support BDS and Palestinian rights. Dublin became the first European capital to endorse BDS in 2018, while Barcelona cancelled its twin cities agreement with Tel Aviv in September. Oslo announced in April 2023 that it would not trade in goods and services produced in illegally occupied areas, including the Golan Heights and the West Bank.
Overall, Hamtramck’s decision to support BDS marks a significant moment in the city’s history and adds to the growing global movement in solidarity with Palestinian rights.