Empowering Change: The Freedom Advocacy Group’s Strategic Approach to Palestinian Liberation

On January 3, 2024, members of the Freedom Advocacy Group gathered to brainstorm and strategize about campaigns, initiatives, and partnerships aimed at promoting Palestinian liberation. The meeting touched on various key aspects, from cooperative efforts with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to the humanization of the Palestinian people through social media. Here’s a deep dive into the key points discussed during the meeting.

A Collaborative Approach with BDS

Amin, a member of the group, shared his experience meeting with the BDS organization. BDS is known for its targeted campaigns against specific organizations, focusing on both global and local campaigns. With partners like CJPME and BDS Quebec in Canada, the group is currently targeting entities like Scotiabank and Indigo.

The BDS movement also plans to name and shame the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to their normalization. This is a bold strategy that exposes those who contribute to the ongoing crisis indirectly by maintaining diplomatic relations with the oppressors. The naming/shaming initiative is set to be updated on BDSMovement.net on January 10th.

Interestingly, BDS is not just focusing on organizations directly linked to the conflict. They’re also targeting corporations like HP and Citibank over human rights violations. The strategy here is to hit where it hurts most. For instance, while HP seems indifferent to war-related associations, they are concerned about looking racist, an angle BDS is keen to explore.

Humanizing the Palestinian People

Rizwan, a Medical Tech entrepreneur, is working on a project aimed at humanizing the Palestinian people. He started the group ‘Children of Palestine’, modeled after the popular ‘Humans of New York’ community. The group’s mission is to share positive stories about Palestinians, with a specific focus on children rather than the war. By doing so, Rizwan aims to provide a different perspective on the Palestinian people, shedding light on their humanity amidst the ongoing conflict.

Consistent, Clear Messaging Campaign on LinkedIn

Another key point that came up during the meeting was the idea of launching a consistent, clear messaging campaign on LinkedIn. This initiative, led by Salman, aims to carry a strong, urgent, and loud voice calling for a ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. This business-focused campaign is to be reviewed by a small group before being shared widely.

Amal, another member of the group, suggested a unique approach—talking to Risk Managers at local organizations. This innovative idea leverages the fact that companies have an obligation to avoid conflicts of interest and uphold human rights, thus making them potential allies in the fight for Palestinian liberation.

Outreach and Growth

Members were reminded to populate the group’s skills database and idea bank, and to invite at least one trusted person from their network to the group, ensuring the community continues to grow. This shows the importance of expanding the group’s influence and sharing resources.

Next Steps

Finally, the group discussed potential actions to be taken in the future. This ranged from going over the ideas in the idea bank to confirm which ones to implement, to putting together a list of LinkedIn folks who are problematic and should be addressed. The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue pushing for divestments, as brought up in the discussion with BDS.

Freedom Advocacy Network

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