Mission Statement:

DJs4BDS is a community of DJs, musicians, artists and fans in support of a global campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (“BDS”) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights.
From the official BDS site:

The campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) is shaped by a rights-based approach and highlights the three broad sections of the Palestinian people: the refugees, those under military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Palestinians in Israel. The call urges various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law by:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

We will not accept any offers to play in Israel, or accept any funding from any institutions linked to the Israeli government until these goals are met. You can find the official BDS site here.

Basically, we ain’t gonna play Sun City.
Sun City was was a popular resort that operated during apartheid South Africa and booked famous musical acts.
From Wikipedia:

In 1985, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt made the venue the focus of his music-industry activist group, Artists United Against Apartheid. Forty-nine top recording artists collaborated on a song called “Sun City“, in which they pledged they wouldn’t perform at the resort because of their opposition to apartheid.

Jackson Browne (who played on the track) had a good quote:

“In a sense, Sun City is also a symbol of that society’s ‘right’ to entertain itself in any way that it wants to, to basically try to buy us off and to buy off world opinion.”

The whole of Israel is a modern day Sun City.
Are you so easily bought?  That no matter what you’re being paid, you are ok with having your music promote apartheid?  Because if you play there, whether you know it or not, you are choosing to help Israel whitewash what it is to the world. We, as a collective of DJs, are not going to use our talents to support such an obvious injustice.

Enuga S. Reddy, director of the United Nations Center Against Apartheid in 1984, taken from an Electronic Intifada article:

“We have a list of people who have performed in South Africa because of ignorance of the situation or the lure of money or unconcern over racism. They need to be persuaded to stop entertaining apartheid, to stop profiting from apartheid money and to stop serving the propaganda purposes of the apartheid regime.”

Let’s assume everyone here is a fan of music.  
Do you think about the history of your favorite records or tracks? Whatever the genre, most modern music styles can be traced back to African and Afro-American culture.  There is no disputing this.  Its 100% hypocritical to call yourself a DJ and support racism in any way.  Another reason to support BDS.

But why Israel?  Is it really an apartheid state?
Despite the misinformation out there, or ‘hasbara’, the evidence is overwhelming. Ethnic cleansing since the formation of Israel to the present (the Nakba, etc); checkpoints; illegal ‘jewish only’ settlements; arresting children in the middle of the night; detention without charges (administrative detention); bombing children, civilians, schools and hospitals in Gaza; suppression of peaceful demonstrations including use of skunk water, tear gas and live ammunition; home demolitions and evictions; destruction of crops; theft of water; Israel’s 50-plus laws that discriminate by ethnicity; holding African immigrants in detention centers; and much much more.  Its very obvious this is no ‘democracy’, despite Israel’s claims. You can start to educate yourself with some links provided here.

As Howard Zinn said, “You can’t be neutral on a moving train.”  And when it comes to racism, we should never look the other way and ignore the problem, especially when it is this blatant.

DJs4BDS is dedicated to human rights and justice for ALL people, no matter their color, religion, or background.  And by the way, opposing the occupation and calling for equal rights for all does not make you an ‘anti-semite’.  This is about equal rights and the use of boycotting as a tool for political change and justice.

We are in solidarity with the worldwide movement for BDS. 

Do the right thing. By supporting BDS you are taking a stand against apartheid and the occupation.  The Nakba has never ended, and will never end without folks doing what they can.
Join us and help spread the word.