Macklemore Responds To “Free Palestine” Speech Criticism


The speech elicited the creation of a petition from the Israeli-American Council calling for the rapper to be removed from the rest of Ed Sheeran’s tour. “This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the petition read in part, asking Sheeran to “remove Macklemore” claiming his speech was “a one-sided political agenda.” The “Can’t Hold Us” artist made his plea for the fighting to end before performing “Hind’s Hall,” his song supporting Columbia University students’ renaming of the Hamilton Hall academic building to Hind’s Hall during their protests in support of the Palestinian people. The name comes from Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip.On the second night of the stop, Macklemore clarified his stance. “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,” he said while on stage. “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 Lebanon, I say free Cuba, I say free Congo, I say free Sudan, free...