The leadership team of the Berkeley Capoeira Collective shares this statement in response to the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza. We find the evidence, presented by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, that Netanyahu’s government is committing genocide, to be compelling. We therefore call for an immediate cease in aggression against Palestinian civilians. Also, we implore the United States government to immediately cease funding for said aggression.
At the root of capoeira is the struggle for freedom, and an understanding of its history implicates practitioners to stand against oppression. We, therefore, offer our support to our members taking action in the name of liberation and working to ease the suffering of innocents. In alignment with our values as an organization, we encourage our teachers to elucidate capoeira’s social justice history with a modern lens in the context of our academy.
We recognize Judaism and the actions of Netanyahu’s government are two distinct things. Our stance against Netanyahu’s actions is consistent with our condemnation of violence upon all innocent people, regardless of circumstance. We stand with our Jewish loved ones.
Axé
Bateria, Bodinho, Fogueira, Marreta, Parabrisa, Tako Polvo ~ March 2024
Let’s show up for one another: honoring love, fear, education, service, and generational thinking.