Former Pink Floyd co-founder, Roger Waters, has faced protests and calls for boycotts over accusations of anti-Semitism in his concert in Frankfurt. Waters has also faced backlash for his support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel. The city tried to prevent the concert from taking place at Festhalle, a venue where over 3,000 Jews were rounded up by the Nazis in November 1938. The Frankfurt mayor spoke at the protest and strongly condemned anti-Semitism “everywhere in our city.”
Last week, police in Berlin launched an inquiry into Waters for wearing a costume that resembled a Nazi outfit during a performance in the city. The outfit included a fake machine gun and a black coat with a red armband, which is a criminal offence in Germany. Waters also faced protests from Jewish groups before his Sunday concert in Frankfurt, with many raising objections to his support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, which calls for boycotting Israeli goods as a protest against Israeli policy towards Palestinians.
Despite all these protests, Waters went ahead with his concert in Frankfurt. Waters, who denies the allegations of anti-Semitism, received support from his fans, who viewed Waters’ actions as a statement of opposition to fascism and injustice. However, Sacha Stawski, a spokesperson from the Frankfurt Jewish Community, said that “Against this historical background, the concert should not have taken place under any circumstances.”
Germany is known for its strong stance against anti-Semitism. However, the small turnout in protests against Waters, as well as the indifference of German concert-goers to the allegations of anti-Semitism, has caused some distress. Cologne, for example, saw only 250 protestors while over 10,000 people attended Waters’ concert. The situation further highlights the internal contradictions within the German-Israel Friendship Association (DIG) and the Jewish community’s inability to mobilise its members.
In conclusion, the accusations of anti-Semitism against pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, and his support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel, has led to protests and calls for boycotts in Germany. Despite the backlash, Waters went ahead with his concert in Frankfurt. The situation raises questions about the German authorities’ efforts in combating anti-Semitism and the ability of the Jewish community to mobilize. It also highlights the importance of taking a strong stance against anti-Semitism and the need for a deeper understanding of the historical background of the venues hosting such events.
