Update

Palestinians call to boycott Marvel's apartheid Israel superhero movie

Palestinian film and arts organizations call for boycotts of Captain America: New World Order

Palestinian cultural organizations, including theaters and performing arts centers, are calling for “widespread boycotts” of Captain America: New World Order, unless Marvel drops its superhero Sabra AKA Ruth Bat-Seraph, who “personifies” apartheid Israel, from the 2024 film.

In a letter, organizations including the Palestine Film Institute and the Freedom Theatre criticize Marvel and parent company Disney for their “complicity in anti-Palestinian racism, Israeli propaganda, and the glorification of settler-colonial violence against Indigenous people.”

Pointing to the character’s backstory in Marvel comics that includes working for apartheid Israel’s government and occupation forces, the signatories say that “by reviving this racist character in any form, Marvel is promoting Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians.”

Alia Malak of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), the largest entity in Palestinian society that is leading the global BDS movement, said:

“We echo the call of Palestinian film and arts organizations for boycotting Captain America: New World Order. Whatever superficial changes Marvel may make, the character’s anti-Palestinian racist history and representation of apartheid Israel cannot be sanitized.

Disney halted its distribution and broadcasting in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Instead of taking similar steps against Israel’s decades-old occupation and colonization against Palestinians, Disney is deepening its complicity in apartheid.

Israel’s government is the most far-right, racist, homophobic, sexist and fundamentalist in its history, with a senior minister describing himself as a ‘fascist homophobe.’ Marvel’s Israeli character is inherently associated with this apartheid government, including its influential fascist element.”

The Palestinian organizations, who also include music and visual arts institutions, urge “creative, peaceful protests” to pressure Marvel and Disney: “principled filmgoers would have boycotted a movie featuring a superhero that represented the South African apartheid regime.”

Read the full letter below.


Palestinians call for widespread boycotts of Marvel’s 2024 film, Captain America: New World Order, unless it drops Sabra/Ruth Bat-Seraph, its “superhero” that personifies the apartheid state of Israel.

The character’s backstory includes working for the Israeli government and occupation forces. By reviving this racist character in any form, Marvel is promoting Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians.

We encourage creative, peaceful protests to challenge Marvel Studios’ – and its owner Disney’s – complicity in anti-Palestinian racism, Israeli propaganda, and the glorification of settler-colonial violence against Indigenous people.

Principled filmgoers would have boycotted a movie featuring a superhero that represented the South African apartheid regime. Likewise, we urge conscientious audiences worldwide to join us in boycotting Captain America: New World Order, and standing up for freedom, justice and equality.

A M Qattan Foundation | Al-Bireh Cultural Center | Al Harah Theatre | Al Kamandjati Association | Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society | Art to Heart | ASHTAR Theatre | Assirk Assaghir- Nablus Performing Arts & Circus School | Baladi Center for Culture & Arts | Culture and Free Thought Association | The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music - Birzeit University | El-Funoun Dance Troupe | The Freedom Theatre | General Union of Cultural Centers (GUCC) | Jafra Productions | Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center | Lajee Center | Naqsh Popular Arts Center | Nawa Institute For Cultural Development | The Palestinian Circus School | Palestine Film Institute | Palestinian Performing Arts Network | Popular Arts Center | Sareyyet Ramallah | Shoruq Organization | Visual Arts Forum | Wassel Center for Youth Development | Yafa Cultural Center | Yes Theatre


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