About 15 AU students and other activists in the area who want Best Buy to stop selling the home carbonation product SodaStream protested in front of the Best Buy in Tenleytown on Feb. 24.
The AU chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) organized the demonstration. They believe SodaStream is manufactured in the West Bank, which the protesters view as illegal settlements.
The protesters carried signs and began marching in a circle at around 1:45 p.m. Best Buy employees came outside to confront them, and a police officer was called to the scene at 2 p.m. He left shortly thereafter without making any arrests, and the protest concluded an hour later.
“Companies that make illegal products should not be patronized by retailers,” said Damián Fontanez, a senior in the School of Public Affairs and the president of SJP. “It’s a shame to see so many companies profiting from what is going on.”
Josh Michaels, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, helped start the on-campus chapter of JVP.
“I think it went well,” Michaels said. “It’s all about visibility and it definitely got a response from people in the area.”
Best Buy did not respond to requests for comment before press time.
dmitchell@theeagleonline.com
