Lawsuit filed against Brooklyn co-op boycotting Israeli products
News 12 previously reported the co-op voted the boycott.
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The National Jewish Advocacy Center has filed a lawsuit on behalf of some Jewish Park Slope Food Coop members, demanding that the co-op overturn its boycott of Israeli goods.
News 12 previously reported that the co-op voted to boycott.
Mariana Gaston says she's been a member there for more than 30 years.
"We have taken positions around social justice issues that affect society," said Gaston.
Alan Scheiner, senior litigation counsel at the National Jewish Advocacy Center, says the boycott violates anti-discrimination laws.
"New York has a law against discriminatory boycotts. When you go to a place for public accommodation, or a grocery store, all those places are governed by generally the same anti-discrimination rules. You are entitled to not be subjected to a hostile environment," said Scheiner.
The complaint also lists incidents. One section claims "a member wearing a 'Peace, Love, Israel' shirt was told that the shirt was 'disgusting' and that the member was 'a racist and a genocide supporter' who should leave the co-op.”
“We don't think that it's part of the co-op's mission to enforce international law. The co-op is, if you look at its certificate of incorporation, its bylaws, its purpose is economic," said Scheiner.
"I disagree because we are human beings. We live in society. This is a vote of people. Of people that care about the people of Israel and the people of Gaza," said Gaston.
The complaint claims that the vote was not in accordance with the co-op's rules.
"You needed to have 75% of the membership voting in favor of. That vote had to be in-person under the bylaws. But because they flouted the bylaws, they were able to remove that restriction, with only a majority vote, not 75% vote, remotely," said Scheiner.
The co-op tells News 12 it is aware of the lawsuit and it's being reviewed with legal counsel.
