In ongoing solidarity with the people of Palestine, UNIT/PITT is committing to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), in line with the 2021 Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres’ (PAARC) commitment to the Palestinian-led call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS).
UNIT/PITT operates on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations in the neighbourhood also known as Kitsilano, close to Sen̓áḵw, the head of False Creek. UNIT/PITT recognizes and supports Indigenous sovereignty and the right to self-determination from coast to coast and around the world. The struggle for Indigenous sovereignty on Turtle Island intersects with the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom from occupation and violence. As the assault on Palestine continues, we recognize that all forms of oppression are connected, and that the call for a free Palestine is a call for freedom everywhere.
UNIT/PITT stands against all forms of racism and colonial oppression, and firmly oppose anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Semitic violence. In recent months, we have witnessed threats and retaliatory action taken against cultural workers exercising their right to freedom of expression by sharing their support and solidarity with the Palestinian people. Our stance does not start or end with a statement, and by adopting PACBI guidelines, we are joining a vast network of artist-run centres, galleries, and cultural organizations in expressing our support for the BDS movement, in alignment with longstanding calls for justice, accountability, and peace across all areas of society. We encourage our peer institutions, artists, writers, and cultural workers to join.
Visit bdsmovement.net to learn more and join the campaign.