Boycott Sri Lanka campaign expands to cities in North America

North American Tamils expanded their boycott campaign over Sri Lanka goods to over a dozen cities across the US and Canada, targeting GAP and Victoria Secret stores on Saturday, youth organizers of the event said. Leveraging the “No to Sri Lanka” website run by Canadian youth activists to spread the campaign message, the organizers held protests in San Francisco, Chicago, North Carolina, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The protesters stood inside malls, outside shopping centers, and some in the median of busy streets, urging ethical shoppers to resist buying garments made in Sri Lanka. We wanted to convey a unified message that by conducting business with Sri Lanka’s apparel manufacturing industry, GAP and Victoria Secret are indirectly funding a brutal regime that is accused of possible war crimes, and which is holding nearly 300,000 Tamils in military supervised camps with little or no freedom of movement,” spokesperson for co-ordinating the protests said.

Dozens of protesters, including women and children held placards and distributed leaflets in several places in the campaign cities, and drew the attention of large crowds of people,

The busy intersection at Market St. and Powell St. outside the GAP store was targeted by protesters in San Francisco. Protesters met with the store management and explained why protesters object to GAP’s business with Sri Lanka.

Another group of protesters met outside Victoria’s Secret store on Powell St. in San Francisco while similar protests were held in major cities across north America.

Volunteers distributed more than 3000 campaign fliers while walking from Macy’s to Victoria Street and to GAP around 4 blocks also on Michigan Street in Chicago.

September 12th – North American PROTESTS

On September 12, 2009 concerned consumers across the North America plan to stage protests in front of GAP and Victoria’s Secret stores to warn customers to check the label and say no to products made in Sri Lanka.

USA

• Manhattan, NY: Victoria’s Secret, GAP; 34th and Broadway junction
• Princeton, NJ: GAP; Nassau Street
• Atlanta, GA: 230 18Th St. – 3PM to 5PM
• Columbus, OH: Polaris Fashion Place; 1500 Polaris Pkwy –  2PM to 5PM
• Los Angles, CA : Southcoast plaza mall; 3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa – 10AM to 2PM
• San Francisco, CA: Gap; 890 Market St. – 11AM to 3PM
• San Francisco, CA: Victoria’s Secret; 335 Powell St. – 11AM to 3PM
• Chicago, IL: Old water Tower Place; Michigan and Pearson Ave – 10AM to 2PM
• Raleigh, NC : GAP, Victoria’s Secret; Crabtree Valley Mall – 11AM to 3PM
• Raleigh, NC : Victoria’s Secret; Cameron Village – 11AM to 3PM
• Boston, MA: Victoria’s Secret; Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, 4 Faneuil Market Place – 11AM to 3PM
• Boston, MA: Gap: Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, 200 State St, S-14  – 11AM to 3PM
• Boston, MA: Victoria’s Secret; Newbury St Location, 82 Newbury St. – 11AM  to 3PM
• Boston, MA: Gapbody; Newbury St Location, 201 Newbury St. – 11AM to  3PM

CANADA (2pm – 4pm)

• Toronto: 60 Bloor Street West; Toronto, ON M4W 3B8, Canada
• Ottawa: 1200 St-Laurent boul; Ottawa, ON K1K 3B8, Canada
• Vancouver: 2134 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6M 1Z1, Canada
• Montreal: 1255 St-Catherine ouest, Montreal, QC H3G1P3, Canada

Press Release Check the Label Rally Sept 8 2009

Protest in front of Chinese Consulate in Toronto: Wednesday August 26, 2009

A protest calling for the release of Tamils held for more than 100 days in the internment camps and urging China and other countries to stop investing in Sri Lanka will be held in front of Chinese Consulate in Toronto,Ontario.

Did You Know:

• China is Sri Lanka largest foreign donor and has provided the government of Sri Lanka over $1billion since 2007.
• China is a largest supplier of Arms for the Sri Lankan Military.
• In April 2007 Sri Lanka signed a $37.6$ million dollar deal to buy ammunition and ordinances for its army and navy.
• Many of the Chinese Arms have been bought through Lanka Logistics & Technologies, co-headed by Gotabhaya Rajapaska, the defense secretary and President’s brother.
• China’s involvement in Sri Lanka is linked to the building of a $1 Billion dollar Hambantota port.
• China encouraged Pakistan to sell weapons to Sri Lanka and to train Sri Lankan pilots.
• China repeatedly provided diplomatic support for Sri Lanka in the UN, and repeatedly blocked the Sri Lanka from being put on the UN Security Council Agenda.

Please considered these facts and take a stand against the China’s support of the Sri Lankan Government.

Date: Wednesday August 26, 2009

Time: 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Venue: In front of Chinese Consulate in Toronto
240 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 2N5

For more information contact Canadian Tamil Congress: (416)-240-0078

New York Protest Saturday August 15, 2009

There will be a protest in front of GAP and Victoria Secret stores on 34th street/Broadway intersection in Manhattan this Saturday 15th August from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

We must educate the American consumers that the garments they buy helps to fund the Sri Lanka military which commits atrocities against the Tamils.