Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-11-20

Three Boycott Divestment Sanction South Africa (BDS) protestors were arrested for picketing at a Woolworths store at Boksburg Retail Park on Gauteng’s East Rand this afternoon.

Sumaya Omar from BDS said they applied to the East Rand Police Department for permission to boycott which was granted.

“The protest was a legal protest… We protested for three hours in which we realized that Woolworth’s management had called extra policemen to intimidate us and make us move away.”

According to Omar, the way in which the police were acting towards them was allegedly very reactive and this caused some of the protestors to retaliate.

The protestors then went outside the store to continue their protest.

“At that point when we were outside the Woolworths store, there was remarks from the police and from the other comrades and this is when the arrests had been made,” said Omar.  

The three have been charged with assault, public violence and resisting arrest.

Woolworths could not be immediately reached for comment.

BDS against Israel is calling for the retailer to stop importing products from Israel.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)