Netanyahu affirmed yesterday his plan to annex the West Bank, so we have to kick the boycott movement into high gear. Sign the petition and tweet at football/soccer superstar Raheem Sterling asking him not to sign with Puma as long as they support illegal Jewish-only settlements. We will deliver the signatures to Sterling’s management.

Dear John,

Yesterday, Sunday, May 17, 2020, Israel’s new Netanyahu-Gantz unity government was sworn in after three elections. Addressing the parliament before the vote, Netanyahu, who will remain prime minister for at least the next 18 months, affirmed his plans to annex the West Bank. “It’s time to apply Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism,” he pronounced, along with the prediction that annexation “won’t distance us from peace.”

WHAT A FARCE! Luckily, we gave up a long time ago on the idea that Israel would willingly end its systems of occupation and apartheid. That’s why we are proud participants in the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement. Join us in asking superstar soccer player Raheem Sterling not to sign with Puma as long as they host Jewish-only settler team matches. We will deliver the signature by email to Sterling’s management agency.

Puma is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association, which includes clubs in illegal Jewish-only Israeli settlements. Now, Puma’s offering Sterling, who has taken bold stands against the racism, a whopping 100M Euros to sign with them.

Sterling, who once said, “I don't want the next generation of black players to have to put up with this evil [racial injustice]," is known as an outspoken voice against racism. He also supports using economic pressure to bring about change. That’s why, with your help, we are making sure that he knows about the mass mobilization taking place across the world to boycott Puma until they stop supporting apartheid.

• Puma’s license in Israel is on the UN database of companies involved in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise.
• More than 200 Palestinian soccer teams have urged Puma to end its complicity with Israeli apartheid.
• Malaysia’s largest university dropped Puma as a sponsor of its football team in response to the call from Palestinian soccer clubs.
• The Forest Green Rovers, of Gloucestershire, England, pledged not to sign with Puma as long as they support Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
• Former Barcelona soccer player Oleguer Presas has called on Puma to end its support for illegal Israeli settlements.

We need Raheem Sterling to be next. Sterling’s contract with Nike ends this month and we need to make sure that he, as someone concerned with racial justice, doesn’t help Puma shield Israel’s crimes. Sign the petition and tweet at Sterling now!

Towards freedom and liberation for Palestine,
Ariel, Ann, Asia, Carley, Caty, Cody, Emily, Jodie, Kelsey, Leila, Leonardo, Makena, Mary, Medea, Michelle, Nancy, Paki, Teri, and Yousef