Black Friday Boycott Calls Intensify
Calls to boycott Black Friday as part of protests over the Israeli-Palestinian war are growing on social media.
Protesters on platforms including X (formerly Twitter ) and Instagram have argued that people should not take part in the discount day on November 24 because the pause in fighting agreed between Israeli officials and Hamas is not enough.
The deal will see Hamas release at least 50 hostages over a four-day period , with a temporary stop in fighting, more humanitarian aid into Gaza and 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli jails released.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in New York City on October 9, 2023. Some activists are now calling for a Black Friday boycott as part of a protest over the Israeli-Palestinian war. Michael M. Santiago/But the reaction from some pro-Palestinian accounts on social media demanded a total stop to the war and called for the Black Friday boycott to take place in protest.
One post that was seen more than 60,000 times on X said the pause in fighting was so shoppers can "spend guilt free" and urged consumers to "hit them in their pockets" by not taking part.
Another reached more than 177,000 people and asked: "Are you ready to disrupt business as usual? No celebrating in peace while genocide takes place. This Black Friday, November 24, people around the world will boycott, disrupt, and rally at commercial centers as we continue to #ShutItDown4Palestine."
BOYCOTT BLACK FRIDAYTHEY PAUSED THEIR K*
DO NOT FALL FOR IT
BOYCOTT BLACK FRIDAY
#AltTextPalestine #BoycottBlackFriday pic.twitter.com/5NFhIOnDQy — Mis Leading November 22, 2023
Following the October 7 assault, during which thousands of Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack from Gaza into southern Israel and killed 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until the Israeli goal of the elimination of Hamas and the return of hostages is achieved.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said of accusations of genocide: "Israel is not trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map. Israel is not trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat. So if we're going to start using that word, fine. Let's use it appropriately."
The Party for Socialism and Liberation 2024 campaign of Claudia De La Cruz for President & Karina Garcia for VP has also backed the Black Friday boycott.
In a statement, it wrote: "This holiday season also presents a crucial opportunity for us to take a stand for the Palestinian people. We call on everyone to join the Shut it Down for Palestine movement: disrupt, march, rally and take other creative actions at commercial centers this Friday.
"Tens of thousands across the country will be shutting down business-as-usual on Black Friday, the most profitable day of the year for major retail corporations—join us!"
The protest groups' demands include a permanent ceasefire, the end of all U.S. aid to Israel and the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
But despite people vowing to boycott, it is unlikely to have an impact on Black Friday and data from the National Retail Federation (NRF) reported by Forbes predicts that more people than ever are set to make a purchase as part of the upcoming annual event and surrounding sales.
An estimated 182 million people are planning to shop in-store and online from Thanksgiving Day through to Cyber Monday, according to the federation's survey. This is the highest estimate since they began tracking the data in 2017.
Newsweek has contacted the NRF and The Party for Socialism and Liberation via email for comment.
