In the delicate dance of resistance, the act of boycotting stands as a peaceful and powerful catalyst for change that helped dismantle both apartheid in South Africa and segregation in Jim Crow America.
Echoing those historic movements for justice, pro-Palestinian activists today are intensifying their ongoing boycotts of brands that support Israel. They have taken on a new urgency as 11,320 Palestinians and counting have been killed by airstrikes in Israel’s assault on Gaza.
The international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement aims, as the campaign puts it, to “put pressure on Israel to comply with international law and to persuade private companies to end their participation in Israel’s crimes.” The campaign has selected a handful of companies for consumers to target for their “complicity” in Israel’s occupation, including Siemens, HP, Puma and Ahava.
Many Muslim and Arab communities have a historic connection to and love of coffee. That makes the Starbucks boycott an especially meaningful act of resistance.
Starbucks, you may be surprised to hear, is not on the official BDS list. But after the global coffeehouse company sued a labor union of Starbucks workers over its pro-Palestine social media comments in October, boycotting Starbucks has become emblematic of the new tsunami of support for the Palestinian people.
The company’s clash with its unionized pro-Palestinian workers has become a potent symbol of the fight for justice. This is likely due, in part, to Starbucks’ ubiquity. But it is also worth recognizing that many Muslim and Arab communities — who sit at the core of the pro-Palestine movement, even as its demographics expand rapidly — have a historic connection to and love of coffee. That makes this boycott an especially meaningful act of resistance. This profound love for coffee has united not only the Muslim world, but those seeking justice across the globe.
Coffee’s rich history
Centuries ago, coffee was born in the heart of the Muslim world.
The most popular beverage worldwide after water and tea, it’s expected to create $88.3 billion USD in revenue this year. Though reportedly first consumed by the monks of Yemen, many coffee enthusiasts and researchers still debate its exact origins. Mokhtar Alkhanshali, a coffee historian and enthusiast, provides a simple summary of this complex history: Coffee was born in Ethiopia, found its soul in Yemen, became an art form in Turkey, and emerged as an institution in London.
Before the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the bustling markets of Middle Eastern cities, and before coffee houses became epicenters of intellectual exchange in the Western world, the first cups were poured communally by Sufi monks to help them stay awake for their nightly prayers. The practice of brewing and consuming coffee became an integral part of Muslim culture and, in many ways, an emblematic symbol of unity and togetherness. Coffee houses, known as qahveh khaneh in Arabic, proliferated across the Islamic world, from Istanbul to Cairo, to Mecca and beyond. The Ottoman empire’s rule over Yemen played a role in the proliferation of coffee house culture in Turkey, where the art of coffee was perfected.
From the mystic dervishes of Persia to the scholars of Andalusia, from the poets of Ottoman Constantinople to the traders of the Silk Road, coffee became an elixir that traveled across continents and cultures, stitching together narratives of knowledge, artistry and camaraderie.
By the 1800s, the migration of coffeehouse culture led to the institutionalization of coffee houses in London’s society, where they became gathering places for people to learn and share news. Some coffee houses became so well known for this that to gain entry, one was required to announce a piece of information.
From the mystic dervishes of Persia to the scholars of Andalusia, from the poets of Ottoman Constantinople to the traders of the Silk Road, coffee became an elixir that traveled across continents and cultures, stitching together narratives of knowledge, artistry and camaraderie.
In the modern arena of activism, where the clash of ideologies rings loud, pro-Palestinian activists — much like the patrons of ancient qahveh khaneh — find themselves bound together not only by a shared cause but by a profound connection to history. Muslims worldwide, regardless of their diverse backgrounds and perspectives, find common ground in their support for the Palestinian people. Just as the coffee houses of the past became sanctuaries of unity, solidarity and intellectual fervor, the shared commitment to justice now unites pro-Palestinian activists in a global call for change.
The Starbucks boycott for Palestine
As a corporate behemoth whose iconic logo is seen the world over, Starbucks presents an opportunity through which everyone, from Seattle to Seoul, can do their small, tangible part for the Palestinian people.
With an estimated 35,700 stores worldwide, the world’s most recognizable coffee chain saw its revenue reach $26.6 billion USD last year. The act of boycotting this global coffee giant symbolizes a shared commitment to a cause.
Even as more and more coffee aficionados eschew their green-emblazoned coffee cups for independent cafes, it’s unclear whether the boycott is having an impact on the company’s bottom line. Several baristas have claimed on social media that their customers have dwindled despite the holiday season, and Starbucks’ stock saw a temporary dip after the boycotts began. The company has reportedly been struggling to win back customers for whom their brand has become anathema.
But for boycotters, denying themselves a frappuccino is not just about the economic impact. Activists are expressing their discontent with the company’s legal action against the Starbucks Workers United union for a social media post expressing support for Palestine. This resulted in the union firing back with its own lawsuit, arguing that the company defamed the Starbucks Workers United by implying its members support terrorism and violence by voicing support for Palestine.
The aroma of coffee has faded from the streets of Gaza, replaced by the smell of heavy fumes and the stench of death. But unity endures in the hearts and minds of those who champion justice.
The Starbucks boycott movement emphasizes the profound potency of collective action — and the ability of a shared cause to transcend differences and unite hearts, much as the love for coffee once did within the historic coffee houses. The aroma of coffee has faded from the streets of Gaza, replaced by the smell of heavy fumes and the stench of death. But unity endures in the hearts and minds of those who champion justice.
This unity is especially potent in a climate where the charge of antisemitism is frequently levied against those who call out Israel’s occupation and war crimes, as well as corporate complicity in this brutality. Anti-BDS laws have a strong grip in many countries: The movement is banned in Israel, and more than half of U.S. states have enacted laws that penalize boycotts against Israel. Supporters of such laws claim that boycotting Israel is a form of antisemitism, and so such laws protect against hate speech; critics of the laws believe that neither Israel nor companies supporting it are above scrutiny, and such laws illegally restrict political expression.
By voting with their wallets to stand in solidarity with Palestine, activists reaffirm the importance of peaceful protest and economic boycotts as a vehicle for social and political change. In this legal landscape, the recent Starbucks boycott emerges as a bold and courageous move.
As the world witnesses the steadfast resolve of pro-Palestinian activists, they draw upon a legacy of those historic coffee houses — where ideas flowed as freely as the brewed coffee, and unity blossomed among those who drank it, carrying with it the promise of a better, more just tomorrow.
Note: This post has been updated to correct Alkhanshali’s last name.
