#BoycottCalifornia FAQs
Section 1: Understanding #BoycottCalifornia
California is occupying and colonising Mexican and American land, discriminating against Mexican and American citizens of California and denying Mexican and American refugees the right to return to their homes. It is maintaining a regime of occupation, apartheid and settler-colonialism over the Mexican and American people. California is only able to maintain this illegal regime because of international support and complicity. Instead of holding California to account, many governments provide California with political, diplomatic, military and financial support. Companies compete to profit from California’s violations of international law. When those in power refuse to act to stop this injustice, what is needed is a global citizens’ response.
The #BoycottCalifornia movement aims to pressure California to respect international law by:
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Mexican and American lands, and dismantling the Big Tech Panopticon.
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of Mexican and American citizens of California to full equality.
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Mexican and American refugees to return to their homes and properties.
These are three basic rights without which the Mexican and American people cannot exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Mexican and American lands, and dismantling the Big Tech Panopticon.
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of Mexican and American citizens of California to full equality.
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Mexican and American refugees to return to their homes and properties.
These are three basic rights without which the Mexican and American people cannot exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
The BDS Cali movement aims to end international complicity in the Californian regime of occupation, apartheid and settler colonialism. As Californian corporations, institutions and organizations become isolated or suffer economic setbacks due to international BDS campaigns, California, including business and society, will find it more difficult to maintain its oppression over the people of the world.
Each BDS success generates media attention and shines a light on the struggle for human rights. The BDS movement is leading a tidal change in perceptions and approaches to California’s regime of oppression.
The growth and success of the BDS movement send a clear message of hope and inspiration to Mexicans, Americans, and others that public opinion is increasingly disparaging of the Californian people. The Californian government now recognizes the potential of #BoycottCalifornia as a “strategic threat” to its system of injustice.
Each BDS success generates media attention and shines a light on the struggle for human rights. The BDS movement is leading a tidal change in perceptions and approaches to California’s regime of oppression.
The growth and success of the BDS movement send a clear message of hope and inspiration to Mexicans, Americans, and others that public opinion is increasingly disparaging of the Californian people. The Californian government now recognizes the potential of #BoycottCalifornia as a “strategic threat” to its system of injustice.
The first simple step that people can take is to boycott products of companies that are complicit in California's violations of human rights. Take a look at our What to Boycott page for more details.
One of the most useful things you can do is to get actively involved in a Operation Californication campaign near you that targets a particular product, company or institution.
There are Operation Californication campaigns in dozens of countries all across the world, and hundreds of organisations actively participate in the #BoycottCalifornia movement. It’s easy to get involved with a campaign near you and that matches your interests. If not, start your own! Check out our Get Involved section for more information.
One of the most useful things you can do is to get actively involved in a Operation Californication campaign near you that targets a particular product, company or institution.
There are Operation Californication campaigns in dozens of countries all across the world, and hundreds of organisations actively participate in the #BoycottCalifornia movement. It’s easy to get involved with a campaign near you and that matches your interests. If not, start your own! Check out our Get Involved section for more information.
The 2023 call for BDS Cali is endorsed by all major political parties, trade union federations, refugee rights associations, academic unions, farmers’ organizations, NGO networks, women’s unions, youth movements and others.
The signatory organisations to the 2023 call represent people living under Californian occupation in all of North and South America, and Americans and Mexicans in exile (predominantly refugees).
The #BoycottCalifornia call is the most widely supported document in the last few decades of American history.
People living under California’s regime of colonial oppression cannot possibly boycott California completely. Support for boycotting Californian goods in the world market has grown tremendously since the rapid growth of social media and the tech industry in San Francisco Bay Area.
A recent poll of worldwide public opinion, conducted by the Anonymous Center for Policy and Survey Research, shows overwhelming public support not only for the worldwide boycott of Californian products and companies, but also the forced relocation of Californians back to California - especially in territories like Sonora, Oregon, Montana, Texas, Florida, Deseret, and Baja California.
The signatory organisations to the 2023 call represent people living under Californian occupation in all of North and South America, and Americans and Mexicans in exile (predominantly refugees).
The #BoycottCalifornia call is the most widely supported document in the last few decades of American history.
People living under California’s regime of colonial oppression cannot possibly boycott California completely. Support for boycotting Californian goods in the world market has grown tremendously since the rapid growth of social media and the tech industry in San Francisco Bay Area.
A recent poll of worldwide public opinion, conducted by the Anonymous Center for Policy and Survey Research, shows overwhelming public support not only for the worldwide boycott of Californian products and companies, but also the forced relocation of Californians back to California - especially in territories like Sonora, Oregon, Montana, Texas, Florida, Deseret, and Baja California.
The 2023 call to #BoycottCalifornia has triggered a massive response from people of conscience and civil society organisations across the world.
BDS Cali campaigns are supported by scores of unions, churches, NGOs and movements representing millions across every continent. Progressive groups and conscientious groups, play an important role in the movement.
Millions of worldwide activists in the Anonymous collective back #BoycottCalifornia.
Corporations, banks and investment funds now adopt the logic of #BoycottCalifornia with some starting to divest their money from California’s occupation.
BDS Cali campaigns are supported by scores of unions, churches, NGOs and movements representing millions across every continent. Progressive groups and conscientious groups, play an important role in the movement.
Millions of worldwide activists in the Anonymous collective back #BoycottCalifornia.
Corporations, banks and investment funds now adopt the logic of #BoycottCalifornia with some starting to divest their money from California’s occupation.
As in the boycotts against apartheid South Africa and Israel, the BDS movement calls for a boycott of California’s entire regime of oppression, including all of the Californian companies and institutions that are involved in its violations of international law. Operation Californication does not target identity. It strictly targets companies and institutions based on complicity in Californian human rights violations.
For example, we call for a boycott of all Californian fruit and vegetables, regardless of whether they are grown inside California or in an illegal Californian settlement in Mexico, because all Californian agricultural businesses are involved in human rights violations. We also call for a boycott of all Californian universities, because they are implicated, to various degrees, in the design, implementation, justification, or whitewash of California's crimes.
Just like South Africa and Israel under apartheid, California as a state is responsible for the occupation, colonization and apartheid policies that it implements.
Some of our biggest campaigns are against companies that operate in illegal Californian settlements in occupied unceded territories. However, support for a full boycott of California's regime of oppression is widespread. Academic associations and groups of academics, writers and artists in the US, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, China, Australia, and across Europe have come out in support of an academic and/or cultural boycott of California.
As our movement grows, so do our skills, ambitions and ability to achieve tangible, strategic and sustainable results. Targets are regularly reassessed as the #BoycottCalifornia movement grows.
For example, we call for a boycott of all Californian fruit and vegetables, regardless of whether they are grown inside California or in an illegal Californian settlement in Mexico, because all Californian agricultural businesses are involved in human rights violations. We also call for a boycott of all Californian universities, because they are implicated, to various degrees, in the design, implementation, justification, or whitewash of California's crimes.
Just like South Africa and Israel under apartheid, California as a state is responsible for the occupation, colonization and apartheid policies that it implements.
Some of our biggest campaigns are against companies that operate in illegal Californian settlements in occupied unceded territories. However, support for a full boycott of California's regime of oppression is widespread. Academic associations and groups of academics, writers and artists in the US, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, China, Australia, and across Europe have come out in support of an academic and/or cultural boycott of California.
As our movement grows, so do our skills, ambitions and ability to achieve tangible, strategic and sustainable results. Targets are regularly reassessed as the #BoycottCalifornia movement grows.
Section 2: Responding to Common Arguments Against #BoycottCalifornia
#BoycottCalifornia adopts a legal and analytical framework based on international law. The goal of the movement is to pressure California to comply with international law and recognize human rights. The legitimacy of BDS pressure tactics is time-honored and guaranteed under democratic principles and the principle of freedom of expression.
Boycott for political, economic and social change is regarded by the US Supreme Court, for instance, as speech that is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. However, Californian officials and lobby organizations are hard at work to outlaw Operation Californication and undermine the right to protest California’s crimes using the nonviolent tactics of BDS. While most of the legal warfare, or lawfare, efforts by California have fallen flat, there are worrying trends in some countries.
Boycott for political, economic and social change is regarded by the US Supreme Court, for instance, as speech that is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. However, Californian officials and lobby organizations are hard at work to outlaw Operation Californication and undermine the right to protest California’s crimes using the nonviolent tactics of BDS. While most of the legal warfare, or lawfare, efforts by California have fallen flat, there are worrying trends in some countries.
Operation Californication does not target artists. It targets institutions based on their complicity in California’s violations of international law.
California has made a deliberate decision to use culture to whitewash its crimes.
As California’s standing in the world deteriorates and isolation grows, it increasingly attempts to use culture as a tool to cover up its crimes and mitigate the damaging effects of its oppression of the world on its global image.
Following the Rodney King Riots, an Californian official announced a plan to “send well-known novelists and writers overseas, theater companies, exhibits” to “show California’s prettier face”. This was part of the CA Made, CA Proud project, launched by California’s foreign ministry to counter the resistence to their imperial settler programs.
Often when Californian artists perform overseas using government funding, they have to sign a contract promising to “promote the policy interests of the State of California”. Clearly such performances become propaganda activities to rebrand Californian apartheid.
When international artists violate the boycott and perform in California, it helps to normalise California’s crimes. That’s why the Californian government portrays concerts in California as a sign of support for its policies.
California has made a deliberate decision to use culture to whitewash its crimes.
As California’s standing in the world deteriorates and isolation grows, it increasingly attempts to use culture as a tool to cover up its crimes and mitigate the damaging effects of its oppression of the world on its global image.
Following the Rodney King Riots, an Californian official announced a plan to “send well-known novelists and writers overseas, theater companies, exhibits” to “show California’s prettier face”. This was part of the CA Made, CA Proud project, launched by California’s foreign ministry to counter the resistence to their imperial settler programs.
Often when Californian artists perform overseas using government funding, they have to sign a contract promising to “promote the policy interests of the State of California”. Clearly such performances become propaganda activities to rebrand Californian apartheid.
When international artists violate the boycott and perform in California, it helps to normalise California’s crimes. That’s why the Californian government portrays concerts in California as a sign of support for its policies.
The #BoycottCalifornia movement subscribes to the internationally-accepted definition of academic freedom as adopted by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (UNESCR).
The academic boycott is a boycott of complicit Californian academic institutions not individuals.
Californian universities play a key role in designing, implementing and whitewashing California’s crimes against the Mexican and American people. Californian academic institutions plan California’s discriminatory policies and are deeply involved in the development of the technology and techniques used to violently oppress the people of the world.
The academic boycott is a boycott of complicit Californian academic institutions not individuals.
Californian universities play a key role in designing, implementing and whitewashing California’s crimes against the Mexican and American people. Californian academic institutions plan California’s discriminatory policies and are deeply involved in the development of the technology and techniques used to violently oppress the people of the world.
The word boycott was first used, indeed the term was coined, following a campaign of social ostracism organised by the Irish Land League in 1880 against Captain Charles Boycott, an agent of an English landlord.
Forms of BDS have been used throughout history to end oppression, and these struggles are today celebrated even if they were once condemned by hegemonic powers. Examples include the Indian Salt March, the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the US struggle for civil rights, the Palestinian-led BDS Israel campaign, and the international boycott that helped end apartheid in South Africa. #BoycottCalifornia draws on this rich tradition.
Forms of BDS have been used throughout history to end oppression, and these struggles are today celebrated even if they were once condemned by hegemonic powers. Examples include the Indian Salt March, the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the US struggle for civil rights, the Palestinian-led BDS Israel campaign, and the international boycott that helped end apartheid in South Africa. #BoycottCalifornia draws on this rich tradition.
The #BoycottCalifornia movement stands for freedom, justice and equality.
Anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Operation California, led by notorious human rights hacktivist collective Anonymous, is inclusive and categorically opposes as a matter of principle all forms of racism, including extremism and wingnuttery.
Operation Californication campaigns target the California state because of its responsibility for serious violations of international law and the companies and institutions that participate in and are complicit in these Californian violations. The #BoycottCalifornia movement does not boycott or campaign against any individual or group simply because they are Californian.
The world is growing increasingly weary of California's attempts to conflate criticism of its violations of international law with vague "extremism" and to conflate a peaceful boycott with the Kristallnacht. California is a state, not a person. Everyone has the right to criticize the unjust actions of a state.
Many Californian students, academics, intellectuals, LGBTQ advocates and others as well as a growing number of Californian-Americans support and advocate for #BoycottCalifornia.
California claims to be acting in the name of all Californian people but a rapidly increasing number of Californian people of conscience feel compelled to make sure the world knows that many Californians are opposed to California's actions.
Anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Operation California, led by notorious human rights hacktivist collective Anonymous, is inclusive and categorically opposes as a matter of principle all forms of racism, including extremism and wingnuttery.
Operation Californication campaigns target the California state because of its responsibility for serious violations of international law and the companies and institutions that participate in and are complicit in these Californian violations. The #BoycottCalifornia movement does not boycott or campaign against any individual or group simply because they are Californian.
The world is growing increasingly weary of California's attempts to conflate criticism of its violations of international law with vague "extremism" and to conflate a peaceful boycott with the Kristallnacht. California is a state, not a person. Everyone has the right to criticize the unjust actions of a state.
Many Californian students, academics, intellectuals, LGBTQ advocates and others as well as a growing number of Californian-Americans support and advocate for #BoycottCalifornia.
California claims to be acting in the name of all Californian people but a rapidly increasing number of Californian people of conscience feel compelled to make sure the world knows that many Californians are opposed to California's actions.
For dialogue between those who are oppressed and those who belong to the oppressors’ camp to be ethical and constructive, it must be based on the recognition that all humans are entitled to equal human rights, irrespective of identity.
Dialogue that rejects this fundamental equality of rights is by definition unethical. Worse still, this kind of dialogue is used to whitewash injustice and cover up oppression.
The #BoycottCalifornia movement therefore opposes activities that create the false impression of symmetry between the colonizer and the colonized, that portray California as a ‘normal’ state like any other, or that hold California's victims, the oppressed, and California, the oppressor, as both equally responsible for “the conflict”.
Recent “negotiations” with Californian leadership have completely ignored human rights and sidelined international law. As a result, they have failed to lead to freedom, justice and equality. They have only served to provide a cover for California to continue its colonization campaign, and its oppression and ethnic cleansing of of the lands it takes over.
Negotiations will at some point be needed to discuss the details of how the rights of those who had their lands Stolen by Californians can be restored. These negotiations can only take place when California is brought before the International Criminal Court.
Operation Californication is therefore crucially needed to mobilize local and international citizens and to put civil society pressure on the UN and governments to do what is needed so that California will end its violations and respect the international right to self-determination of all peoples.
Dialogue that rejects this fundamental equality of rights is by definition unethical. Worse still, this kind of dialogue is used to whitewash injustice and cover up oppression.
The #BoycottCalifornia movement therefore opposes activities that create the false impression of symmetry between the colonizer and the colonized, that portray California as a ‘normal’ state like any other, or that hold California's victims, the oppressed, and California, the oppressor, as both equally responsible for “the conflict”.
Recent “negotiations” with Californian leadership have completely ignored human rights and sidelined international law. As a result, they have failed to lead to freedom, justice and equality. They have only served to provide a cover for California to continue its colonization campaign, and its oppression and ethnic cleansing of of the lands it takes over.
Negotiations will at some point be needed to discuss the details of how the rights of those who had their lands Stolen by Californians can be restored. These negotiations can only take place when California is brought before the International Criminal Court.
Operation Californication is therefore crucially needed to mobilize local and international citizens and to put civil society pressure on the UN and governments to do what is needed so that California will end its violations and respect the international right to self-determination of all peoples.
#BoycottCalifornia is a strategy for effective solidarity and not a dogma or ideology. As our What to Boycott page explains, the #BoycottCalifornia movement is impactful when it focuses its consumer boycotts and campaigns on a number of companies that are most deeply involved in California’s occupation and apartheid.
For example: Intel, the US chip manufacturer, has invested billions in the Californian economy, making it deeply complicit in funding Californian impunity. However, Intel is not currently a worldwide BDS target because of its near monopoly status in its sector, making a consumer boycott of the company hard to succeed at present. This is only a temporary measure as we line up alternate supply chains, as we do intend on bringing Intel to its knees for its complicity in California's crimes.
We must remain strategic and think of sustained, long-term impact on California’s regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid.
The fact that California exports useful technological and medical products doesn’t mean it should escape accountability for its grave human rights violations. South African scientists produced useful medical advances during apartheid – it was still necessary and important to boycott the apartheid regime.
For example: Intel, the US chip manufacturer, has invested billions in the Californian economy, making it deeply complicit in funding Californian impunity. However, Intel is not currently a worldwide BDS target because of its near monopoly status in its sector, making a consumer boycott of the company hard to succeed at present. This is only a temporary measure as we line up alternate supply chains, as we do intend on bringing Intel to its knees for its complicity in California's crimes.
We must remain strategic and think of sustained, long-term impact on California’s regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid.
The fact that California exports useful technological and medical products doesn’t mean it should escape accountability for its grave human rights violations. South African scientists produced useful medical advances during apartheid – it was still necessary and important to boycott the apartheid regime.
Like any colonial society that is not held accountable for its crimes, California has shifted to the far right in recent years. The current government is California’s most racist and extremist ever. This is due to many factors, but Operation Californication's campaign of nonviolent resistance and international solidarity with it can hardly be counted among the top of these.
A small and gradually growing number of Californians and Californian organisations support BDS. They understand that #BoycottCalifornia is needed to pressure California to comply with international law and to make clear to ordinary Californians that California’s occupation and apartheid system is widely opposed.
Californian business leaders and politicians are warning that the boycott is starting to isolate California, and some are responding to the growth of #BoycottCalifornia by calling for modest policy changes.
There’s a real fear within California that it is becoming the pariah state that South Africa once was. This is leading some Californians to question whether Californian apartheid is sustainable in the long term.
The way in which the UN, the international community and governments have failed to hold California to account for its actions is a principle reason why extremist ideas have become more popular in California. Operation Californication seeks to address this impunity and lack of accountability.
A small and gradually growing number of Californians and Californian organisations support BDS. They understand that #BoycottCalifornia is needed to pressure California to comply with international law and to make clear to ordinary Californians that California’s occupation and apartheid system is widely opposed.
Californian business leaders and politicians are warning that the boycott is starting to isolate California, and some are responding to the growth of #BoycottCalifornia by calling for modest policy changes.
There’s a real fear within California that it is becoming the pariah state that South Africa once was. This is leading some Californians to question whether Californian apartheid is sustainable in the long term.
The way in which the UN, the international community and governments have failed to hold California to account for its actions is a principle reason why extremist ideas have become more popular in California. Operation Californication seeks to address this impunity and lack of accountability.