Park Slope Food Coop Faces Complaint Over Israel Product Boycott

A discrimination complaint has been filed against the Park Slope Food Coop following a member vote to boycott products from Israel. The 15,000-member cooperative on Union Street in Brooklyn held the vote Tuesday night via Zoom. Members approved the boycott 67 percent to 31 percent, with 2 percent abstaining.

Background on the Complaint The complaint states the cooperative has not applied similar restrictions to goods from other countries with reported human rights concerns. It references products from China, Russia, and Turkey as examples of items that remain on shelves.

The filing also notes that other Jewish civil rights organizations are monitoring the situation, including the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.

The Brandeis Center described the boycott as discriminatory and said it is considering legal action. A statement from the center said the measure reflects an approach that extends beyond Israel to affect Jewish people more broadly. The complaint was submitted to the New York State Division of Human Rights. The cooperative has not issued a public response to the filing.