A coalition of pro-Palestine advocates, led by New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports (NOSHIP), will hold a press conference outside Municipal Court at noon on Thursday, November 21. The event marks one year of NOSHIP’s campaign to pressure the Port of New Orleans to sever its ties with Israel and halt the transfer of weapons through the port.
For the past year, local residents have consistently attended monthly Port of New Orleans board meetings, urging the board to end its role in facilitating military trade with Israel. NOSHIP alleges that these shipments contribute to violence against Palestinians. While the group will not attend this month’s board meeting, the press conference aims to keep public attention on the Port’s involvement in what the group describes as complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.
Ongoing Legal Battle for Activists
The press conference coincides with the legal proceedings of two pro-Palestine activists who were arrested during a student-led encampment at Tulane University in May. NOSHIP contends that these arrests highlight a broader issue: the use of the criminal justice system to suppress dissent and silence advocacy for Palestine.
Key Demands
NOSHIP is calling on the Port of New Orleans to take immediate action by implementing the following measures:
- End all military trade with Israel through the port.
- Sever ties with shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk), which they allege is involved in arms transfers to Israel.
- Suspend all business operations with Maersk until the company ceases its role in the transfer of weapons.
- Publicly withdraw from the Innovation Embassy agreement, a partnership that NOSHIP claims bolsters ties with Israel.
- Repeal anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) laws in Louisiana, which activists argue stifle free speech and advocacy.
A Broader Call for Accountability
NOSHIP frames the Port of New Orleans’ role as part of a larger system enabling military actions against Palestinians. “The arrests of protestors illustrate how the criminal justice system is used to suppress the peoples’ ability to advocate for Palestine,” NOSHIP said in a statement.
The press conference underscores a year of grassroots organizing aimed at holding the Port accountable for its policies and partnerships. NOSHIP insists that New Orleans residents have a right to demand transparency and ethical practices from public institutions like the Port.
