A petition has been launched to reverse the decision taken by Frankfurt City Council officials to ban Roger Waters from performing in the city.
Roger Waters was originally scheduled to play May 28 at the Festhalle as part of the tour This Is Not a Drillbut the show was canceled by the city council, which invoked “persistent anti-Israeli behavior” the former leader of Pink Floyd.
A petition was started by American comedian and political commentator Katie Halper earlier this month and has received support from Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton, Nick Mason, drummer of Pink Floyd, Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, and Robert Wyatt, founder of Soft Machine.
Among the other personalities who signed the petition: academics Noam Chomsky et Cornel Westthe actresses Susan Sarandon et Julie Christiedirector Ken Loach and the comedian Alexei Sayle.
“Roger Waters’ criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is part of his long-standing advocacy for human rights around the world”can we read in the text accompanying the petition. “Roger Waters believes that ‘all of our brothers and sisters, everywhere, no matter the color of their skin or the depth of their pockets, deserve to enjoy the same human rights under the law'”.
“Regarding Israel and Palestine, he says: “My program is simple: it is to implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 for all our brothers and sisters between the Jordan and the sea. .Anti-Semitism is abhorrent and racist and I unreservedly condemn it and all forms of racism.”
“German authorities, concert organizers and music platforms must not bow to pressure from individuals and groups who would rather see Waters’ music removed than address the issues it highlights.”
The petition, which currently has more than 10,000 signatures, is available at change.org. A second petition, opposing the first, was also launched.
Last month, Roger Waters revealed he had re-recorded the Pink Floyd classic, The Dark Side Of The Moonwithout any of the current band members.