Park Slope Food Coop Members Approve 67% Boycott of 12 Israeli Products
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 27
Park Slope Food Coop Members Approve 67% Boycott of 12 Israeli Products
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 27
About 7,000 Park Slope Food Coop members voted Tuesday night to boycott roughly a dozen Israeli and settlement-linked products, with 67% backing the measure at a three-hour virtual meeting.
The campaign framed the move as part of the co-op’s history of socially conscious purchasing, while supporters said the boycott would remain until Israel complies with international law.
A second ballot also passed by a large majority, removing the co-op’s 75% supermajority requirement for future boycotts after weeks of organizing and internal dispute.
The fight spilled beyond the Brooklyn co-op into local politics, drawing opposition from Democrats Dan Goldman and Brad Lander and support from pro-Palestinian advocates.
Threats, abusive comments and reported antisemitic and anti-Arab remarks pushed management to add security, underscoring how the Gaza war has deepened divisions inside the 17,000-member institution.
Will a Brooklyn co-op's boycott of Israeli goods ignite a nationwide consumer movement?
When a food co-op becomes a geopolitical battleground, can its divided community survive?
Deep Divisions at Park Slope Food Co-op: The 2026 Israeli Boycott Vote and Its Aftermath
Overview
On May 26, 2026, the Park Slope Food Co-op held a highly anticipated and unprecedented virtual vote on a contentious issue, creating a tense atmosphere marked by threats, suspicious mail, and aggressive messages. In response, the Co-op increased security with hired personnel and extra check-ins. The debate included a proposal to raise the voting threshold for divisive measures like boycotts to 75%, aiming for greater consensus. These events highlighted deep divisions within the community, as members grappled with both the fairness of changing voting rules and the broader impact of such contentious decisions on the Co-op’s unity and future.