This week members of the Sierra Club unit of the Progressive Workers Union (PWU) passed a resolution pledging solidarity with the Palestinian people. The resolution passed with 86% of the vote.
Despite criticism from human rights groups and Palestine advocates, the Sierra Club has scheduled educational trips to Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Jaffa for next spring.
The Sierra Club claimed to embrace racial justice principles in its environmental advocacy, but its decision to continue trips to Israel shows the organization is practicing its own “Palestine Exception” when it comes to racial justice-conscious conservationism.
In response to backlash from pro-Israel groups the Sierra Club has reversed its decision to cancel a series of educational trips to the country.
There are conflicting reports whether the Sierra Club has canceled plans for educational trips to Israel that were supposed to begin this month. It was originally reported that the environmental organization made the decision to cancel the trip after discussions between members of its board and a coalition of Palestine advocacy groups. But now, the Times of Israel is reporting the environmental organization has buckled under pressure from the Israel lobby.