Summary
Can you imagine going to your local grocery co-op, where you’d usually fret over the perfect avocado, only to be met with hate speech and antisemitic slurs? That’s exactly what’s been happening to Jewish members at the Park Slope Food Co-op in the aftermath of the recent Gaza conflicts. It’s as if the co-op has devolved into a monstrous version of its former self, with tensions over a proposed boycott of Israeli products boiling over into a vitriolic soup of antisemitism, and even the co-op’s board elections becoming a battleground for these divisive issues.
Key Points
- The Park Slope Food Co-op has become a scene of alleged antisemitism with some members accused of hurling hate speech towards Jewish members, according to a complaint filed with the state Human Rights Division.
- The tension originated from a campaign to boycott Israeli products in response to the October 2023 attack by Hamas and the subsequent Gaza war.
- Jewish members who opposed the boycott, including real estate developer Ramon Maislen, allegedly faced harassment, leading to the complaint.
- The store, which requires its 16,000 members to work in exchange for discounted groceries, has also seen the issue permeate its board of directors election.
- Incidents mentioned in the complaint include a Jewish member being called a “Nazi” and being told to “Sieg Heil”, and another being accused of smelling “of Palestinian blood”.
- The Park Slope Food Co-op Members for Palestine group, who are behind the boycott, say they aim to ensure the co-op doesn’t support what they call an “apartheid government and unfolding genocide”.
Background
The Park Slope Food Co-op was founded in 1973 as a socialist-leaning grocery cooperative. It has been a local institution in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope, offering its members heavily discounted groceries in exchange for work shifts. The co-op is known for its democratic process where members can vote on store policies. However, the recent Israel-Palestine conflict has sparked a divisive boycott campaign within the co-op, leading to alleged antisemitic incidents.
Future Implications
Antisemitism allegations, if proven, could have serious repercussions for the co-op, potentially leading to state intervention, public outcry, and a loss of membership. The situation also poses a challenge to the co-op’s democratic process and its reputation as a welcoming space for all members. The ongoing dispute over the boycott campaign could further deepen divisions among members and potentially affect the co-op’s operations. It remains to be seen how the co-op will address these issues and the impact they may have on its future.
