Al-Qalam 
Each Friday, Saydoon Nisa Sayed of the South Africa Palestine Movement and partners hold pickets outside certain supermarkets – but one bakery owner, Adam Robinson and his family are always at the forefront, despite verbal abuse, writes Ismail Suder
For months now, Durban businessman Adam Robinson and his family have picketed and called for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel – and their efforts are gradually paying off.
Robinson, the owner of The Glenwood Bakery, told Al-Qalam that his steadfast opposition against the Israeli genocide in Gaza has had some repercussions – Christian Zionists who once patronised his bakery have stopped buying from him, “but, I don’t care,” he said.
What further incensed Zionist supporters was when the bakery started a collection drive to raise R25 000 for Gaza.
Adam Robinson, his wife Carin, a lecturer at UKZN, and his daughter are part of South Africa Palestine Movement (SAPM) – led by convenor Saydoon Nisa Sayed. The Movement has been successful in exerting pressure on various local businesses to stop selling products that fuels the Israeli genocide. They are calling for the boycott of five items: Coca Cola, and all its products; Clover and all its products; Nestle and all its products, ZZ2 and all its products and Teva medical products.
The activist group also calls for the boycott of Zionist-linked businesses, namely McDonalds, Starbucks, Zara, Dis-Chem, Cape Union Mart and Krispy Crème.
Robinson said because of his family’s Palestine activism, they have had to endure verbal abuse, mainly from Christian Zionists, who labelled them as “supporters of terrorism.”
Yet, the family remains undaunted and continues to be present at SAPM’s protest points in the city, come rain or shine. Of the protesters that gather each Friday, only half are Muslims, the rest come from Christian, Hindu and other backgrounds.
In an interview with Al-Qalam, Robinson lamented: “but where are the Muslims? …there are thousands of Muslims in the city, but why aren’t they here to join us – do they even care about the genocide in Gaza?”, he asked.
Al-Qalam pushed Sayed to explain why there was a lack of support from the Muslims community when it came to picketing against injustice. She said perhaps local Muslims feel culturally out of place picketing in the street. “I think they probably believe that as long as they are fulfilling their obligations of the deen – and making duas for Gaza, they’ve done their bit for the cause – we plead with them to play an active role against any form of injustice!”
Sadly, she said, there was another group of Muslims who believe that when they press the LIKE button on Instagram or YouTube, they are helping to push the algorithms and therefore contributing to the Palestinian cause.
For months now, Sayed and her team have been writing letters urging mainly Muslim businesses, mainly in Overport, to stop selling boycott listed products. Some responded by saying they would try and source alternative products while the others showed they were not interested.
Today (Friday), they will be back at it again.
In a statement released exclusively to Al-Qalam, The South Africa Palestine Movement (SAPM) said it proudly acknowledges and commends several ethical local businesses that have taken a firm stand in support of the global call to boycott Israeli products.
“These establishments have demonstrated moral courage and solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine by ensuring that their shelves and kitchens are completely free of all Israeli-linked goods.
“By rejecting complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide and apartheid practices against the Palestinian people, these businesses have chosen justice over profit, humanity over hypocrisy, and ethical integrity over silent indifference.
“The SAPM calls on all South African retailers, restaurants, and suppliers to follow this principled example – to end trade with companies and products that are directly or indirectly linked to the occupation, oppression, and massacre of Palestinians.”
“Many Muslims owned stores in Overport are complicit and are posing a challenge to our campaign. We have sent emails, then followed up with hand-delivered hard copies of the letter, and frequently engaged with them on WhatsApp, with no favourable response.”
Last week, while picketing in Florida Road, Sayed said they were targeted by an angry pro-Israel motorists who hurled abuse and showed them the middle finger.
For Sayed, who has spent a lifetime in the fight for justice for all people, nothing can break her spirit. She will stop when Palestine is free, she said.
