'Free Palestine' tour by Macklemore: 'The era of silence is over'

Famous American rapper Macklemore, who was removed from Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" due to his pro-Palestinian statements on stage, announced his new tour called "Free Palestine".

American artist whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty; He stated that the proceeds of the tour, which will cover European cities such as Dublin, Paris and London, will be transferred to non-governmental organizations supporting the Palestinian people.

"DO NOT REMAIN SILENT, THE ERA IS OVER"

In his statement about the tour, Macklemore pointed out the responsibility of artists in social events and emphasized that the process created a collective awakening. The famous rapper used the following statements in his statement:

"The last few weeks have shown us that something has changed in the last 3 years. There has been a collective awakening about the liberation of Palestine, the power of billionaires trying to censor this call, and what we expect from artists today. The year is 2026. It is no longer useful to stay away from politics while a genocide continues. People want artists to come forward, educate themselves, and take part in society."

Stating that stages should not be seen only as entertainment areas, Macklemore pointed out the censorship pressure in the art world by saying, "If the billionaire class can decide which voices will be allowed on stage and which are too dangerous to hear, everyone should pay attention to this."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Known for his songs "Thrift Shop" and "Hind's Hall", which he wrote for the pro-Palestinian student protests at Columbia University, Macklemore called for freedom for Palestine, Lebanon, Congo and Sudan in his concert at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4-5. Addressing his Jewish audience, the musician said, "Criticizing Israel and its apartheid policy and opposing genocide is not a criticism of you."

The rapper, who became the target of the Israeli-American Council and various groups after his statements during the concert, was removed from Ed Sheeran's lineup a few days later. Sheeran stated that the decision was taken by his manager; Macklemore, on the other hand, claimed that he was prevented from going on stage by the stadium management with the intervention of Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium. Following these developments, other front artists in Sheeran's lineup also reacted and announced that they were withdrawing from the tour.