BDS Invades Cambridge – Special October 28, 2026 Cambridge City Council Meeting
The two City Council Orders that precipitated this Special Meeting are nothing more than the latest attempt by anti-Israel extremists to have the Cambridge City Council sign on to the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) that has been going on since 2005 – long before the Oct 7, 2023 invasion of Israel and the military response that followed against Hamas, Iran, and other Iranian proxies. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a Palestinian-led global movement that advocates for economic, academic, and cultural boycotts against Israel.
An alternative version of PO26#195 that does not specifically name Israel was circulated at last week’s City Council meeting in an attempt to allow a couple of City Council swing votes to perhaps vote for something, but the better course of action is not to play to these extremists and to simply vote NO on both Orders. If you agree, you may want to sign this petition. – RW
CHARTER RIGHT
Order #7 (Oct 19). City Council Divestment from companies complicit in the Genocide, Apartheid, and Occupation of Palestinians. Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (PO26#195)
Order #8 (Oct 19). That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to provide the Ordinance Committee, before its hearing, with an opinion on the proposed ordinance under M.G.L. c. 30B and applicable federal law to boycott companies complicit in Israel’s Apartheid, Genocide, and Illegal Occupation of Palestine. Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (PO26#196)
Both of these orders are based on falsehoods fueled by social contagion. My hope is that most city councillors will vote No on both of these Orders – or perhaps Present if they must engage in “bothsidesism” in an attempt to keep the extremists at bay. My sense is that there are at most 3 sincere votes in support (Al-Zubi, Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Siddiqui). Offering substitute versions is really just a way to “have it both ways” rather than to definitively call out an ill-conceived proposal.
Note 1: After the Charter Right was exercised on Order #7 and Order #8 on Tues, Oct 20, the proponents of those two Orders, mainly wrapped in their keffiyehs and many wearing face masks, exited loudly with the stamping of feet and chanting “Free, Free Palestine!” At the end of the meeting, Councillor Al-Zubi exited the Sullivan Chamber saying to those still assembled in the gallery (many of whom were Jewish): “I guess you people are pro-genocide.”
Note 2: The last time proposals like this were paraded before the City Council was in May 2021 (May 17, 2021 and May 24-25, 2021 meetings) when the specific call for a boycott was directed at Hewlett-Packard. Leading the parade then were Councillors Zondervan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Carlone. A substitute Order introduced by Councillors Nolan, McGovern, and Simmons passed on a 5-2-0-2 vote with Councillors Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, and Toomey voting YES; Sobrinho-Wheeler and Zondervan voting NO; and Carlone and Siddiqui voting PRESENT.
Order #2 (Oct 19). That the City Manager is requested to review and reconsider the Harvard Square Kiosk Operating and Stewardship Model. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Flaherty (PO26#189)
Back when suggestions were being solicited for the Kiosk, I made the suggestion that the Kiosk should operate as an affordable hot dog stand (not just hot dogs, of course, but like Sullivan’s at Castle Island) with a projection screen at one end where people could watch things like Red Sox games – like we used to do through the window at Cardullo’s. Some City staff really liked the idea (albeit privately – because, you know, Cambridge), so the idea went absolutely nowhere. The current operation coordinated by CultureHouse, though perhaps well-intentioned, is thoroughly sterile. Perhaps that might improve when the whole plaza is reopened (hopefully before hell freezes over), but I agree with the intent of the City Council order that the whole operation needs to be reevaluated.
I have no idea how this Order made it to the agenda for this Special Meeting. The October 20 Order calling for the Special Meeting only referenced the two BDS-related orders. – RW