The St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (SL-PSC) is a left-of-center, Palestinian-nationalist activist group that organizes and participates in anti-Israel protests. The group is an active member of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement to delegitimize the state of Israel. 1 2
Following the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, SL-PSC helped organize and participated in several Palestinian nationalist protests, including a prominent demonstration against Boeing, the multinational aviation corporation that has been a target of BDS efforts. 3 4
SL-PSC is also a partner of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and has participated in BLM protests, particularly following the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, outside St. Louis. 1 5
Background
The St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee was initially founded as a project of the St. Louis Instead of War Coalition. Since then, the group has become an organizing force in the St. Louis pro-Palestinian coalition by hosting educational events, sending activists to the Palestinian territories, and demonstrating against Israel. SL-PSC has also maintained strong opposition to pro-Israel legislation and legislators at the state and federal levels. 1
In 2011, SL-PSC partnered with the United Methodist Church to advance boycott, divest, and sanction efforts against Israeli companies. In 2013, this culminated in a coalition of labor, environmentalist, and anti-privatization movements seeking to block a water services contract with Veolia, a multinational water services corporation. Veolia was targeted by SL-PSC and its BDS coalition because it invested in Israeli military operations and defense munitions. By 2015, Veolia withdrew from all operations in Israel, including Gaza and the West Bank. 1
Since then, SL-PSC has involved itself in local and national protests related to Palestinian nationalism, race, LGBT issues, and other left-wing causes. On its website, SL-PSC lists that it has partnered in these efforts with the Movement for Black Lives (MBL), the Organization for Black Struggle, St. Louis Latinos en Axion, the St. Louis Interfaith Committee on Latin America, the Missouri chapter of American Muslims for Palestine, the St. Louis chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, and other left-wing activist groups. 1
Activities
Protests
The main activity of the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee is organizing and participating in public demonstrations. Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel, SL-PSC led a large protest in support of Palestinian nationalism and opposing any Israeli response to the attacks. 3 A month later, SL-PSC orchestrated a protest at Boeing Building 598, a corporate office of the aviation and weapons manufacturer. 4 2
In May 2024, SL-PSC was again at the center of a Palestinian nationalist protest in St. Louis near Washington University. American Muslims for Palestine helped SL-PSC organize the protest. 6 SL-PSC posted a clip on social media that showed small children marching in the protest chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, Zionism has got to go.” SL-PSC was criticized for the footage, with opponents saying it was an example of anti-Israel child indoctrination. 7
In July 2024, SL-PSC disrupted an LGBT pride parade in St. Louis because Boeing was one of the sponsors of the parade. 8 1 9
Ceasefire Advocacy
Another major activity of the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee is its support for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War that started in October 2023. In January 2024, St. Louis, thanks to pressure from SL-PSC, became the 16th municipality in the United States to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Several local and state leaders at the center of this resolution claimed that the ceasefire resolution, emanating from the origin of the Black Lives Matter movement, was an example of Black-Palestinian solidarity. Then-United States Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) was a leading proponent of a ceasefire in the United States House of Representatives before the resolution was passed in St. Louis. 10
Support for Black Lives Matter
In 2014, inspired by the heightened Israel-Palestine tension and the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the St. Louis Palestinian Solidarity Committee became partners with Black Lives Matter. SL-PSC claimed there were “ties between Israeli apartheid and white supremacy” in the United States. 1 SL-PSC was among the first groups to join BLM protests in Ferguson after Brown’s shooting. 5
In October 2014, SL-PLC hosted a Palestinian contingent to Ferguson, Missouri to show solidarity between BLM and Palestinian nationalism. This led to the SL-PSC sending its first contingent to the Palestinian territories in 2015 to further advance its belief in a “collective liberation” for Black Americans and Palestinians. 1
References
- “About Us – History.” St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://stlpsc.org/about-us#history
- MacDougald, Park. “The People Setting America on Fire.” Tablet Magazine. May 6, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/people-setting-america-on-fire-soros-tides-wespac
- Abusoud, Nadia and Kuziez, Ulaa. “Thousands Attend Pro-Palestinian Protest in St. Louis.” The University News. October 16, 2023. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://unewsonline.com/2023/10/thousands-attend-pro-palestinian-protest-in-st-louis/
- Camara, Ngakiya and Hayes, Kelly. “Palestine Solidarity Activists Block Boeing’s Doors to Stop Delivery of Bombs.” Truthout. November 6, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://truthout.org/articles/palestine-solidarity-activists-block-boeings-doors-to-stop-delivery-of-bombs/
- McGrady, Clyde. “From Ferguson to Gaza: How African Americans Bonded With Palestinian Activists.” New York Times. February 6, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/african-americans-palestinian.html
- Mediratta, Aliana and Trabitz, Zach. “Pro-Palestine protesters block off Skinker Boulevard.” Student Life. May 5, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.studlife.com/news/2024/05/05/pro-palestine-protesters-block-off-skinker-boulevard
- Amelotti, David. “Video of weekend Pro-Palestinian protest in South City goes viral; reaction mixed.” First Alert 4. May 7, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/05/08/video-weekend-pro-palestinian-protest-south-city-goes-viral-reaction-mixed/
- Starr, Michael. “Anti-Israel activists disrupt pride parades in NYC, Toronto, St. Louis.” The Jerusalem Post. July 1, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/article-808494
- “Resist STL, SL_PSC, and 4 others – Post.” Instagram. June 30, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/resiststl/reel/C82xS01O7kS/?locale
- Madeson, Frances. “St. Louis’s Ceasefire Resolution Is a Testament to Black-Palestinian Solidarity.” Truthout. January 20, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://truthout.org/articles/st-louiss-ceasefire-resolution-is-a-testament-to-black-palestinian-solidarity/