Virginia gubernatorial candidate Lee Carter says he’s a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS).
Carter’s comments came during at the Virginia People’s Debate, an online event hosted by a number of progressive organizations. The candidates who attended were asked if they would “discourage or criminalize” BDS if elected Governor. Carter, who is currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, was the only candidate who said he supported the movement, but everyone on the call defended the right to boycott.
“No, I will never do that,” said Carter. “I’m a supporter of the BDS movement. I believe that the human rights abuses that are being inflicted upon the Palestinian people are among the worst currently ongoing in the world.”
Carter also criticized the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, which was created to help Israeli businesses in the state.
“There is only one state in America that has agency dedicated to increasing its trade deficit with a foreign country and that agency is the Virginia Israel Advisory Board,” Carter explained. “I don’t think we should have an agency like that on our books for any country, but specifically for a country that has a military occupation over a captive population like the Israeli government does over the Palestinian people.”
The only candidate to not appear at the event was Terry McAuliffe, who was Governor of the state from 2014-2018. McAuliffe has touted his pro-Israel record and championed the state’s connections to the country. Polls show that nearly 50% of the state’s voters are undecided.
A pro-Israel Twitter account accused Carter of being an antisemite after the event and he reiterated his support for the movement in response.
“Say whatever you want about me, I will never stop defending the human rights of the Palestinian people, which are being systemically violated each and every day,” he tweet. “I’m not afraid of your smears.”
How refreshing to read about a politician firmly stating his stance on this issue, and supporting the BDS movement. Of course he WILL get attacked by the vicious pro Israel group, but I am impressed by:
“Say whatever you want about me, I will never stop defending the human rights of the Palestinian people, which are being systemically violated each and every day.”
If only other politicians had the courage to speak this way. Good luck to him.
This man is an inspiration! Even when a political candidate has the nerve to oppose the lobby, once that person is attacked for it he, or she, likely backtracks enough to assuage the Zionists offended by the truth and keep those contributions flowing. Raphael Warnock is probably the best example of this, having done a complete reversal on his position re: Palestinian human rights once the DFI started attacking him in the recent, special senatorial election in Georgia. For Carter to publicly state that anyone can say whatever he/she wants against him but he will always defend human rights is as courageous as anything we can ever expect from a candidate running for public office in this country.
I assume that there will be cynics out there thinking this guy will either toe the line or backtrack once the threats to his political future by the Zionist mob escalate to a certain point. But, if Carter can collect enough $10-$20 contributions to render the AIPAC fundraising pipeline unnecessary (i.e. the Bernie model), he just might be able to pull this off. I certainly will contribute to this man’s candidacy. It’s the least all of us, that are passionate for Palestinian rights, should do.
An American political candidate recognizes the existence of the Occupation and the human rights abuses that go with it. And today the New York Times openly stated – possibly for the first time – what Mondoweiss articles have been saying for years –
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/21/world/middleeast/israel-palestinians-elections.html
“Palestinians in the occupied territories cannot vote in the election that will have the greatest effect on their lives — the Israeli one….While Hamas controls the internal affairs of Gaza and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank, many crucial aspects of Palestinian life are still decided by Israel….In the West Bank, Israel still fully governs more than 60 percent of the territory, controls access between most Palestinian-run towns and frequently conducts military raids even within places nominally under Mr. Abbas’s control….In Gaza, the Israeli and Egyptian governments control what and who can come in and out, as well as most of the electricity and fuel supply. Israel also controls Gaza’s airspace, birth registry, access to the sea and access to cellular data, and restricts the access of Gazan farmers to their fields at the edge of the strip.”
Times are changing (pun intended).
“’No, I will never do that,’ said Carter. ‘I’m a supporter of the BDS movement. I believe that the human rights abuses that are being inflicted upon the Palestinian people are among the worst currently ongoing in the world.'”
At long last, an American politician with the courage, honesty and morality to stand shoulder to shoulder with the indigenous Palestinians who have been forced to live under the boot of Zionist fascists for nearly 73 years. Lee Carter is the future!!
Lee Carter is a refreshingly courageous political candidate, not afraid of well-funded bigots who pretend to oppose bigotry. America’s shameful policy toward the innocent people of Palestine – ethnic cleansing, torture, murder, and theft – has destroyed America’s moral credibility around the world. Go Lee!