The Canadian BDS Coalition calls on each of the Raptors Players to say NO to this offer by Tanenbaum. Say NO to being used as an ambassador to sports-wash an aggressive ongoing colonization complete with apartheid, genocide and war crimes.

NOTE: The Canadian BDS Coalition requested clarification from all the owners of Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE), the parent body of the Toronto Raptors, as to whether a trip to Israel for the team was under consideration or had already been approved. To date, no response has been received, but we will post any answer from them when available. In the absence of a reply confirming that such a trip will NOT be happening, we will continue our campaign to say #RaptorsDontGo to Israel. Owners of MLSE are Bell 37.5%, Rogers 37.5% and Kilmer Sports (holding company of Larry Tanenbaum) 25%.

See July 1, 2019 article in Mondoweiss: Sports-washing and the Toronto Raptors

July 1, 2019 Update: Israeli citizens add their call to say #RaptorsDontGo, Don't Whitewash Israeli occupation and apartheid crimes.

Breaking News, June 26, 2019:

Roger Waters adds his voice with a message to Toronto Raptors Players.

Michael Bennett, when he turned down Brand Israel sports washing, quoted 1968 Olympian John Carlos saying “There is no partial commitment to justice, you are either in or you are out.” Michael Bennett said I am in.

Roger Waters asks the Toronto Raptors players to join the commitment to justice, and say no to going to their co-owners offer of a Brand Israel trip.

Roger Water speaks to Toronto Raptor fans and all people concerned about justice to join him in the call to the Raptors players to say no to sports-washing and say no to the proposed brand Israel trip offer by Raptor co-owner Larry Tanenbaum.

Our #RaptorsDontGo campaign is gaining momentum with CodePink & Jewish Voices for Peace on board. And more media covering it, including Quds News Network and the Palestine Chronicle. #SayNo #SkipTheTrip

Background:

Raptor's billionaire co-owner, Larry Tanenbaum, said he would bring @Raptors to visit if they win the @NBA title, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Tanebaum a founder of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which is the parent company of the Raptors as well as the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts. He also currently serves as the board chairman of the NBA, and as a member of the board of governors of the NHL and Major League Soccer.

Israel’s Sport 5 reported last week that during a low-key visit to Israel in April, Tanenbaum told several people he met that “If we win the NBA championship, I will come with the Toronto Raptors to visit the Holy Land.”

Learn More

To learn more about cultural including sports boycott check the Palestinian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel guidelines.

Check out Canadian BDS Coalition #SayNO @Raptors to #Tanenbaum offer of a #freetrip to #Zionist #Apartheid #Israeli-state

Check out articles:

Middle Eastern Monitor Please #SkipTheTrip to Israel, Toronto Raptors

The Palestine Chronicle Toronto Raptors: Please #SkipTheTrip to Israel

Check out open letter to Raptors which was sent to the Raptors players, president and coach:

We are writing to you as long-time fans to urge you to uphold Palestinian human rights and not to travel to Israel. Since 2004 Palestinian civil society organizations have called for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel until such a time as Israel recognizes the Right of Return of over 5 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants displaced in the process of Israeli colonization and occupation of Palestine; ends its occupation and colonization of the West Bank and its siege of Gaza; and dismantles the Apartheid system of racial discrimination and segregation for Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Around the world poor and oppressed people have embraced basketball as a sport of the people, and basketball players, many of whom come from poor and struggling backgrounds, have an important history of taking progressive positions and giving back to their communities. From Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Russel’s stand with Mohammed Ali against the draft and the Vietnam War to public and collective statements against police brutality against Black people in America, NBA players have stood on the side of social and racial justice.

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, its settlements and its Apartheid Wall are a war crime. The siege of Gaza, and the death and misery meted out on an effectively jailed civilian population, is a crime against humanity. And its system of racial discrimination and segregation is a form of Apartheid, as articulated by survivors of South African Apartheid including Desmond Tutu and Mandla Mandela (grandson of the great freedom fighter Nelson Mandela).

As NBA Champions, you have the opportunity to use your stature and influence to make the world a better place for the young people all over the world who admire you. Please take this opportunity to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom and liberation, and do not travel to Israel.

Aiyanas Ormond,

Coordinator, BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish Territories

Tweet @Canadian_BDS

Facebook @BDSCoalition

Thanks to those who joined twitter storm on Saturday, June 22. Keep the word going. Retweet from @Canadian_BDS