Taylor Swift

Press Release

New Yorkers release parody video asking Taylor Swift to “Shake Off” Leviev diamonds

NYC store of settlement and diamond mogul Leviev closes for Valentine’s protest

New York, NY, February 9, 2016 – New York human rights advocates today released a parody video of a Taylor Swift song that called for the pop star to publicly distance herself from Israeli diamond and settlement mogul Lev Leviev. Swift wore Leviev diamonds in photos in the September 2015 edition of Vanity Fair. The video release followed a Saturday afternoon musical protest at the Leviev diamond store in Manhattan in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, with protesters arriving for the third time in a row to find the store closed on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

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Love Under Apartheid at Leviev in New York City, Valentine's 2016

A week before Valentine’s Day, as couples in many countries prepare to celebrate their love for one another, at our protest at Leviev diamonds in New York City we remembered that Palestinians do not have the freedom to love whomever they choose due to Israel’s apartheid policies. We celebrated through the stories below the many Palestinians who dare to defy apartheid with love. Leviev, by building Israel settlements, contributes to Israel’s apartheid program. For more information see http://www.loveunderapartheid.com/

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Event

Valentine's Protest at Leviev NYC

"A Diamond Is Forever" but Apartheid Has to End!

Join Adalah-NY in front of occupation-profiteer Lev Leviev's diamond store in NYC to demand Leviev stop taking Palestinians' land, rights, and lives!  

This Valentine's shopping season join us in supporting Palestinians as they shake off Leviev's practices of hate.      

There'll be parodies, signs, chanting. Featuring musical accompaniment by the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.

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Lyrics for "Shake it Off" (Lev style)

Your bling is not so great, from an apartheid state
That’s what Lev won’t say, mmm, that’s what Lev won’t say, mmm
His companies must go, his wages much too low
That’s what the people say, mmm, that's what the people say, mmm

Lev is abusing, but we’ve made him stop cruising
With our boycott we’re moving, for human rights, and we’re gonna do what’s right

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Document

Seven organizations ask Taylor Swift to commit not to wear Leviev diamonds again

Ms. Taylor Swift
c/o Ms. Tree Paine & Ms. Dana Lobb
PREMIUM PR

September 29, 2015

Dear Ms. Swift,

You have deservedly earned recognition for lending your name and your financial resources to charitable efforts to help victims of bullying, survivors of environmental disasters, and others in need. In light of your support for humanitarian causes, we wish to call your attention to an instance where your inadvertent action threatens to undermine values you uphold. You are featured wearing diamonds from Leviev in two photos in the September issue of Vanity Fair. We are confident that if you were aware of Lev Leviev’s violations of human rights and international law, and unethical business practices in Palestine, Angola and Namibia, you would not tarnish your good name by associating yourself with his companies.

UNICEF, Oxfam America, the British and Norwegian governments and New Zealand’s pension fund are among many organizations that have severed ties with Leviev’s companies as a result of awareness-raising campaigns by activists about Leviev’s human rights abuses. Major Hollywood stars have also distanced themselves from Leviev. In 2008, the website of Leviev Diamonds featured photos of Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, Drew Barrymore, Brooke Shields, Andie MacDowell, Lucy Liu, Whitney Houston, Sharon Stone and others. However, after human rights activists spoke to and sent letters to representatives for these celebrities, some of these stars issued complaints to Leviev and the entire Celebrity section of his company’s website was taken down.

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