Sssj to Conduct Selective Boycott Against Soviet Products Sold in Us

The Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry announced today that it would conduct “a selected economic boycott of selected Russian products.” The announcement followed yesterday’s demonstration by the SSSJ in front of Macy’s and Gimbels department stores to protest the stores’ selling of Russian vodka. Thirty members of the SSSJ demonstrated for more than two-and-a-half hours. They carried picket signs reading “Import Russian Jews, Not Russian Vodka,” and “Soviet Vodka, No; Soviet Jews, Yes.”

Leaflets, distributed by the demonstrators, declared: “There cannot be a business as usual as long as Jewish lives are at stake.” Glenn Richter, SSSJ national coordinator, said yesterday’s demonstration was the first in a series of selective economic boycotts. He added that he was buoyed when, during the demonstration, a Gimbel’s employee prominently displayed a bottle of the Israeli-made Sabra wine in the store’s window. Richter noted that the Russian vodka sold by Macy’s and Gimbels was imported by Monsieur Henri Wines Ltd., with headquarters in Brooklyn. The demonstrators urged consumers not to purchase Monsieur Henri products until the firm drops its trade with the USSR.