Macklemore is unfazed over calls from a pro-Israel organisation for Ed Sheeran to drop him as his opening act for the “Loop Tour,” after he performed his protest song, “Hind’s Hall” and calls for “Free Palestine” on the singer-songwriter’s show.
On 7 September, the rapper took to social media and shared a clip from his Saturday performance, and expressed that “wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”
In the clip, he can be heard addressing Jewish audiences, saying, “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.”
“So I say Free Palestine, I say Free Iran, I say Free Cuba, I say Free Congo, Free Sudan, I say Free all people in America living in fear of this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free,” he added.
In an earlier performance on Friday, Macklemore, real name Benjamin Hammond Haggert, expressed on stage, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
He was later condemned by the Israeli-American Council (IAC), which launched a petition calling for his removal from the tour.