Reminder -- the AAG "webinar" concerning our BDS petition begins today at 12pm ET (about 2 hours from now). Log in to your AAG account and then click the link below to access the member portal and the Zoom link.

www.aag.org/events/aag-m...

we anticipate that AAG's "authoritative history" will attempt to diminish the importance and meaning of a history of member-driven advocacy within the organization. though not every member vote was successful, we think it's important to note member opinion *was* important enough to be consulted - !!

we think it's particularly important to remember and recover this vibrant history -- BDS efforts are by no means unprecedented

some of these past efforts include resolutions to boycot states that had not passed the Equal Rights Amendment, to take a position against US funding of contras in Nicaragua, and against nuclear war.

What is the history of member-driven change in the AAG?

Our archival research has shown that member-driven political activity has been common in AAG's history, including struggles around the Equal Rights Amendment; the US funding of contras in Nicaragua; and nuclear proliferation and war.

"Western institutions marshalled all...academic and digital repression against grassroots witnessing, unsuccessfully so far...the latest functions of a “geographic violence” that requires the myth of absolute distance between the West and the Other to obscure the proximity of colonial warfare."

Intervention — "On Grassroots Witnessing: Gaza as the Terrain of Epistemic Intifada" by Patrick Anthony (Uppsala University) and Ghada Dimashk (American University of Beirut) antipodeonline.org/2025/09/24/o...

much more detail and sourcing for these posts is available on the FAQ sections of our website www.geog4pal.org/boycott/

meanwhile, geographers in the United States have faced immense backlash, extending a historic experience that Palestinian geographers have long faced in our discipline and when conducting fieldwork

it is clear that Israel has committed scholasticide in Gaza at universities with geography departments, while restrictions of all kinds have continued and escalated at universities in the West Bank

How have geographers, geography departments, and geographic thought been affected by Israel?

Geographers/AAG members: I just sent my emails to my regional councilor, the Exec Committee, & Nat Councilors demanding that the organization uphold democratic processes & allow a vote on BDS. We *urgently* need members to email councilors ahead of this Friday Sept 12.

geog4pal.netlify.app/news/

reminder -- this event on BDS strategy in academic associations is tomorrow! be sure to register in advance

please join us next week for an online event with colleagues in other disciplines who have worked to bring BDS resolutions to votes within their academic associations!

you can register here -- and also find a link to our new instagram page!

linktr.ee/geog4pal

please join us next week for an online event with colleagues in other disciplines who have worked to bring BDS resolutions to votes within their academic associations!

Newsletter #2 is being drafted now, and will include a save-the-date for an upcoming webinar with academics who have campaigned for BDS resolutions in other disciplinary organizations. sign up now to receive the details soon! geog4pal.org/join/

Please sign up if you have not already done so

in advance of the upcoming "special meeting," we've updated our website with three extensive "FAQ" pages concerning the academic boycott of Israel, the grounds for BDS in AAG, and addressing potential concerns. we've learned a lot on, for instance, the history of member-driven change in AAG.

if you did not receive this email, we have put the text on our website here

geog4pal.org/communication/

this and more can be found under the "FAQ" tab at the top of our website geog4pal.org/bds-and-aag/

in advance of the upcoming "special meeting," we've updated our website with three extensive "FAQ" pages concerning the academic boycott of Israel, the grounds for BDS in AAG, and addressing potential concerns. we've learned a lot on, for instance, the history of member-driven change in AAG.

we have a new listserv, and have just sent a very important campaign update to our members--sign up below with a non-institutional email address!

geog4pal.org/join/

we are aware of recent communication from the AAG about a "special meeting." aspects of this process have been concerning, to say the least -- we'll have an update with context and action steps soon!