On 25th April, a protest was organised in front of the Starbucks outlet in Kamla Nagar, North Campus of Delhi University as part of the Global Day of Action. The demonstration was held by the Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine (IPSP) under the BDS India movement.
A short skit was performed, representing the everyday violence faced by Palestinians, and red paint was poured on the entrance to symbolise the bloodshed. Pamphlets were distributed inside as well as outside the cafe, and a poem titled “Gaza ke ek bachche ki kavita,” written by Kavita Krishnapallavi, was also recited during the event.
To draw attention to the massacre, Starbucks cups were filled with red paint to show that through everyday consumption choices, such as buying a coffee, one can indirectly support violence against Palestinians. Starbucks was the centre of attention of the protest, as its largest private stakeholder, Howard Shultz, has invested heavily in Israel’s economy. Protesters pointed out that Schultz had invested $1.7 billion in the Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, further raising concerns over Starbucks reportedly suing its workers’ union, whose members posted pro-Palestine content on their social media.
The demonstration was part of BDS India’s broader campaign, which is becoming active day by day across university campuses and working-class neighbourhoods.
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a Palestinian-led initiative that encourages boycotts, divestments, and sanctions against Israel. It was launched in 2005 by a coalition of Palestinian organisations. The movement calls for actions targeting companies like Coca-Cola, Maggi, HP, and Starbucks, and institutions that have links to Israel’s policies toward Palestinians.
IPSP’s Outreach and Grassroots Support
“The IPSP has been raising awareness about the Palestinian issue in local communities such as Shahbad Dairy, Bawana, Karawal Nagar, Mustafabad, Old Delhi, and North Campus. Many people either lack information or only know what is shown to them by mainstream TV channels, WhatsApp forwards, and social media, which depict Hamas as a terrorist group and Israel’s attacks as acts of war,” says Priyamvada, a student activist and a member of IPSP who was present at the protest.
“We have been trying to oppose these narratives through direct public outreach”.
IPSP has also relaunched the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign on a more extensive scale, not only in Delhi but also in several other states. Upon being questioned about their progress and the reaction of the masses, Privamyada said that when visiting these local communities, many locals showed support and distributed pamphlets and stickers to spread the message further. People are helping not just by listening but by actively joining the campaign.
“The media often frames this as just a Muslim-Jew fight, but we explain it’s a bigger fight for justice,” she said.
According to her, the boycott campaign has already shown results, as companies like McDonald’s are now suffering significant losses due to their support for Israel. An appeal was also made to Starbucks staff to help them realise and understand how their work supports the genocide in Gaza.
IPSP Calls for Solidarity and Action Against Israel
Priyamvada hinted at concerns about possible legal actions, alleging that she’s receiving continuous calls from police authorities, but bravely says that the protest will continue, drawing inspiration from India’s history of struggle through similar movements.
In her speech at the protest, Priyamvada further criticised how the Palestinian issue is being used to stir up communal tensions in India. She pointed out how the mainstream media has linked pro-Gaza protests with anti-Muslim sentiments.
She highlighted the growing need to develop a movement that should urge the Indian government to cut ties with Israel right away. Members of the BDS India campaign participated in the protest, carrying banners and lists of companies alleged to be complicit in funding violence against Palestinians.
IPSP concluded the demonstration by calling on progressive, anti-fascist, and anti-Zionist people to join the larger cause of supporting Palestine and the end to the genocide.
According to the latest statistics, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 51,000 Palestinians, with over 117,000 reported injured since the conflict began in October 2023.
The United Nations has reported that nearly 70% of those killed are women and children, highlighting the extreme impact on civilians. 2025.
