In 50 cities across the world, human rights supporters joined the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action on Saturday, February 12. The German sportswear company is the object of an international boycott campaign launched by 235 Palestinian sports teams over its complicity in Israeli apartheid.
PUMA is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which governs and advocates on behalf of teams in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land.
The #BoycottPUMA day of action kicked off with the occupation of PUMA offices in Manchester, UK, where activists recalled the importance of boycotts during the struggle that ended South Africa’s apartheid regime. “There’s only one word for apartheid. And that is ‘boycott.’”
Protests were held at PUMA offices, concept and flagship stores, and major retailers selling PUMA. Letters were delivered to store managers, including over 100 resellers in Denmark, and leaflets were distributed to customers.
The world of sports came out once again in support of their Palestinian colleagues, who struggle to practice sports under Israel’s regime of military occupation and apartheid. Popular boxing, rugby and football teams in Italy supported Palestinian rights and joined the #BoycottPUMA campaign. In Malaysia, youth teams participated in a #BoycottPUMA futsal match, and Boycott PUMA signs and banners accompanied trekkers at a popular hiking location in Kuala Lumpur. The Easton Cowgirls Football Club joined a Boycott PUMA action at Sports Direct in Bristol, UK, with a street football match in front of the shop.
More than 25 actions took place across the UK, including at PUMA’s flagship store in London. Boycott PUMA actions were organized in seven cities across France. A spirited protest was held in Boston at the PUMA store near the company’s North American headquarters. Boston area Dua Lipa fans also called on the global superstar to use her influence as a PUMA ambassador to urge PUMA to drop the IFA sponsorship. In nearby Providence, Rhode Island, students from Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design led protests at PUMA retailers.
Actions also took place in South Africa, Norway, Japan, Italy, Scotland, Australia, and Sweden, where a mailing campaign also alerted local PUMA office employees of the company’s complicity in Israeli apartheid.
On social media, human rights supporters shared Amnesty International’s recent report on Israeli apartheid with PUMA executives, concerned they might have missed it while being too busy profiting from Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. The Amnesty report calls on businesses to cease activities that “contribute to or benefit from the system of apartheid.” Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) joined the day of action with a social media toolkit. Twitter storms were also organized in Arabic and French, blasting the #BoycottPUMA hashtag across social media.
More than 125,000 people have signed the petition by international advocacy organization SumOfUs urging PUMA to end its “complicity with the Israeli apartheid state.”
In a leaked internal memo, PUMA admitted that its celebrity ambassadors and business partners are increasingly raising ethical concerns over its support for Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights. Major sports teams in several countries have dropped PUMA as a sponsor.
PUMA’s complicity in Israeli apartheid puts it squarely on the wrong side of history. Join the #BoycottPUMA campaign to help push PUMA over to the right side. Contact us to get involved: [email protected]
Below are tweets from the Global Day of Action.
Manchester!@PUMA offices are occupied as groups around the world prepare for a weekend of #BoycottPUMA actions urging the company to end its support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians.
Join local protests or on social media: https://t.co/0grOrAr3eC
We're not #PumaFam https://t.co/WiPSFioaM8
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 11, 2022
Kuala Lumpur! The #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action kicks off!
Across the world, calls are mounting for @PUMA to end its support for Israeli apartheid, oppressing millions of Palestinians.
Until it does, we won't be a part of #PumaFam!
Join online: https://t.co/0grOrAIEDc pic.twitter.com/AMpapAJhCg
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
London! At @PUMA's flagship store urging the company to end support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians.
Today's Global Day of Action supports the call from 200+ Palestinian teams to #BoycottPUMA until it ends its complicity.
Join online: https://t.co/nxZVswNlIB https://t.co/d23xCzMHa2
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Paris for today's #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action!
Across the world, groups urge @PUMA to end support for Israel's regime of military occupation and apartheid oppressing Palestinians.
Help push #PumaFam over to the right side of history. Join online: https://t.co/nxZVswNlIB https://t.co/34lPp4kUej
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Rome! The #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action is taking place across the world today.
We stand with 200+ Palestinian teams urging @PUMA to end its support for Israeli apartheid.
Until then, we won't be a part of #PumaFam.
Join actions online: https://t.co/MVaSO7Kuw9 pic.twitter.com/R0qYzKSpk8
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Oslo! At @PUMA's concept store for the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.
Amnesty's report on Israeli apartheid says businesses must end activities that "contribute to or benefit from the system of apartheid."
This means you, PUMA!
Join actions online: https://t.co/nxZVswNlIB pic.twitter.com/FiyZHx7wsN
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Johannesburg and Cape Town join today's #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.@PUMA's support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians puts it squarely on the wrong side of history.
Join actions online to help convince #PumaFam to end its complicity. https://t.co/nxZVswNlIB https://t.co/4fOjDVaLpo
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Sports association Il Grinta of Bologna, Italy, joins today's #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action!
They support 200+ Palestinian teams urging @PUMA to end support for Israeli apartheid.
Until then, we won't be part of #PumaFam!
Join actions online: https://t.co/nxZVswNlIB pic.twitter.com/lL2yBVE8NY
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Osaka for the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action!
Worldwide groups are saying, "@PUMA, stop supporting Israeli apartheid!"
Amnesty's report on Israeli apartheid says businesses must end activities that "contribute to or benefit from the system of apartheid.”
That's you, PUMA! https://t.co/YAcZOdPD7I
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
Edinburgh, Scotland. St. Etienne, France. Brighton, UK. Trieste, Italy.
Across the world, groups join #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action urging @PUMA to end support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians. Until then, we're not #PumaFam.
Join online: https://t.co/0grOrAIEDc pic.twitter.com/Y1OVJ64SfN
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 12, 2022
February 12th is the #BoycottPuma Global Day of Action.
Puma sponsors the Israel Football Association, which oversees teams operating in illegal settlements.
Let Puma know that you won't support them in funding an apartheid regime.
Join us: https://t.co/WFs5Z0bnzx pic.twitter.com/MnrQ2yRHhr
— DSA BDS and Palestine Solidarity (@DSA_Palestine) February 12, 2022
Tokyo for the #BoycottPuma Global Day of Action!
Across the world, we are calling on @PUMA to end its support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians. We won't stop until it does!
Join online to help push #PumaFam over to the right side of history: https://t.co/nxZVsx4X7b https://t.co/5740wy0G0T
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
Malaysia! A futsal match for the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.
Athletes are standing up for Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, @PUMA supports Israeli apartheid, putting it squarely on the wrong side of history.
Help push #PumaFam to the right side: https://t.co/0grOrAIEDc pic.twitter.com/SIfFHwpaMs
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
Sports solidarity from Bologna, Italy!
The Palestra popolare Tpo and Polisportiva Hic sunt leones join #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.
They stand with 235 Palestinian teams urging @PUMA to end support for Israeli apartheid. Until then, we won't be a part of #PumaFam! pic.twitter.com/hlIrrwD8RU
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
Malmö, Sweden. Adelaide, Australia. Orléans, France. Hastings and Rye, UK.
The #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action sent a strong message: We won't stop protesting until @PUMA ends support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians.
Until then, we won't be part of #PumaFam. pic.twitter.com/rvwQMjf4S1
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
More sports solidarity from Italy! Rugby team Cinghiali del Setta joins #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.@PUMA supports Israeli apartheid, putting it squarely on the wrong side of history.
Take action online to help push #PumaFam over to the right side https://t.co/nxZVsx4X7b pic.twitter.com/HVowdTwRuZ
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
Lots of public interest in the #BoycottPUMA campaign at the information stand organised by @bdsprovence. @PUMA must end its support for Israeli apartheid: https://t.co/Xatah8NlZD pic.twitter.com/plTEbCfJC4
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
Lively action in Boston as part of the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.
Amnesty's report on Israeli apartheid says businesses must end activities that "contribute to or benefit from the system of apartheid.”
That's you, @PUMA! https://t.co/aLdNZMScte
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 13, 2022
Students at Brown University say 'no' to @PUMA for as long as it continues to be complicit with Israeli apartheid.
They stand with 200+ Palestinian teams urging @PUMA to end its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association. #BoycottPuma https://t.co/xpvv7U0a9g
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 14, 2022
"Boycott Puma. Puma supports the oppression of Palestinians!" - message from Brighton, UK. @PUMA’s marketed progressive image can’t hide its support for Israeli apartheid. Time for it to listen to the growing calls from around the world. https://t.co/hLQoVsFf77
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 14, 2022
Waltham Forest (UK) residents leafleted and talked to the shoppers about the #BoycottPuma campaign.
Across the world, groups urge @PUMA to end support for Israel's regime of military occupation and apartheid oppressing Palestinians.
via @wfpsclondon pic.twitter.com/QXQHrl9a7Y
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 14, 2022
Bristol! A street match for the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.
Athletes are standing up for Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, @PUMA supports Israeli apartheid, putting it squarely on the wrong side of history.
Help push #PumaFam to the right side: https://t.co/0grOrAr3eC https://t.co/5CcrnIIH1x
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 14, 2022
The #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action sent a strong message:
Until @PUMA ends support for Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians, we won't stop protesting!
We're not #PumaFam.
Join the campaign: https://t.co/MjgLaoFjbD https://t.co/ZX2caLrz4G
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 15, 2022
Actions across France for the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action!@PUMA supports Israeli apartheid, oppressing millions of Palestinians.
The #PumaFam must take a stand and join 200+ Palestinian teams urging PUMA to end its complicity.
Join the campaign: https://t.co/l6E5tW6XGL https://t.co/nqEJ8zlL7c
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 15, 2022
Hey @BgGulden & @PUMA, @Amnesty's report on Israeli apartheid oppressing Palestinians says businesses must “ensure that they do not contribute to or benefit from the system of apartheid.”
This means you!
Until you do, we will choose #BoycottPUMA, not #PumaFam.https://t.co/HE3gqrDseK pic.twitter.com/9HDdY77W77
— PACBI (@PACBI) February 11, 2022
2021 saw unprecedented support for Palestinian rights from star athletes.@PUMA’s support for Israeli apartheid puts it on the wrong side of history.
Join #BoycottPUMA Day of Action, Feb 12, as we pressure PUMA to cut ties with Israeli apartheid.https://t.co/qhrU5qZdQT pic.twitter.com/OmhklZZ7ia
— PACBI (@PACBI) January 14, 2022