A Pro-Palestine banner created by students is displayed at the E.H. Butler Library. Moments later, after it was posted, it was taken down by an E.H. Butler library employee.
One of the organizers spoke to me about the intention with this action.
“It was intended as a relatively small action to stimulate some of the pro-Palestine sentiments that was demonstrated last semester at University campus’ all around, including Buffalo State.”
The placement within the library was also significant. It was in a place visible to the campus-based Starbucks.
The Starbucks company attempted to sue the union organization Workers United for trademark infringement after a now deleted pro-Palestine post. Workers United sued back in retaliation.
Starbucks claimed a neutral stance regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Yet some of their major investors such as the Vanguard Group and BlackRock are shareholders to companies funding Israel’s weapons being Lockheed Martin and Elvin Systems.
“While the campus Starbucks is not being owned directly by the corporation, it is still receiving some profit off its branding and products, ” the anonymous organizer remarked. “It is the most apparent tie that Buffalo State has with Israel, albeit a bit removed.”
They continue to further elaborate on SUNY’s connection to Israel.
“The specific ties that SUNY itself has with Israel are quite deep. I’m very familiar with how R1 Universities within the SUNY system receive funding in the form of state or grant money, for projects relating to defense contracts pertaining to Israeli Defense Forces”
“Additionally, larger institutions like UB have many more direct ties to Israel itself. For instance, it maintains a study abroad program with Tel-AViv University.”
I spoke to some students about their reactions to the banner.
“I think it’s good that we are able to talk about this issue, but I think I would die if I had to give up Starbucks.”
“It ultimately is just coffee at the end of the day. Starbucks is not a necessity, and there are more affordable options for food.”
“There really is no such thing as a ‘good’ billionaire or corporation. I hope we see an end to the conflict soon.”
“We are obviously not feeling the front force of what’s happening to Palestinians. Empathy only does so much. We have to try to call out that the money we give to our government is directly causing that harm. If we can also contribute less to it by boycotting companies like Starbucks, we should.”
I also reached out to the Starbucks workers if they saw the banner. One of them that was there around twelve said they did not see it.
The pro-Palestine protests pertaining to Buffalo State back during the last semester managed to gain some attention from local news stations like WKBW and WIVB.
That sentiment, from the banner, is here to stay this Fall Semester.
