By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - US rapper Macklemore performed to a sold-out crowd at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on Friday night, bringing his three-city European “Free Palestine Tour” to a close with a lineup of musicians, activists and speakers expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
The concert, which followed previous stops in Dublin and Paris, featured performances by British singer Paloma Faith, alternative hip-hop group Cure for Paranoia, political hip-hop duo Dead Prez, and Palestinian and Arab artists Nemahsis, Lina Makoul, Shadia Mansour and Dana Salah.
Aja Monet and DJ Habibeat also joined the lineup.
The event combined musical performances with political speeches and messages of solidarity, featuring Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos and Palestinian activist Arab Barghouthi.
The evening also included a screening of a short film by Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda and contributions from Nadia Greenspan.
- ‘Those children in Gaza are our children’
Macklemore was welcomed by loud cheers and chants of “Free Palestine” before performing “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song released in response to the war in Gaza.
Addressing the audience, the rapper explained why he had decided to speak publicly about the conflict.
“I was scrolling, scrolling, scrolling and seeing the horrific, unimaginable catastrophe that was happening in front of our eyes,” he said.
“And at a certain point, it was more uncomfortable for me to stay silent than to say something.
“And I just want to say, I don’t believe that saying something is brave. I don’t believe that saying something is courageous. I believe that saying something is human.
“And those children in Gaza are our children. There is no separation. We have bought into this idea, this insane notion that we are separate. We inherited borders, we inherited fences, we inherited walls.
“My question is: what are we doing as a global community to tear them down?”
He also thanked concertgoers for attending and praised the sense of togetherness inside the arena.
- ‘Palestine is moving toward its South African moment’
Macklemore performed on stage wearing a custom “Free Marwan” shirt. The garment served as a demonstration of solidarity with Marwan Barghouti, an influential Palestinian political leader who has been held in an Israeli prison since 2002.
Marwan Barghouti’s son, Arab Barghouthi, joined the rapper on stage during the London concert.
Addressing the crowd at OVO Arena Wembley, Arab Barghouthi spoke about his father’s longstanding imprisonment.
He drew parallels with the global solidarity movement that helped bring down the apartheid regime in South Africa, stating that “Palestine is moving towards its South African moment.”
- ‘Gaza is so much more than the devastation we see on our screens’
Thunberg, who addressed the audience during the event, highlighted Palestinian culture and resilience beyond the destruction and suffering shown in media coverage.
“Gaza is so much more than the devastation we see on our screens,” Thunberg said. “It is a place of extraordinary people, culture, history, love and joy, and tonight we honor not only what Palestinians have endured, but everything they continue to preserve.”
The concert was organized by Macklemore following his removal from a planned support slot on Ed Sheeran’s US tour in September, after venues reportedly objected to his pro-Palestinian remarks.
All proceeds from the Wembley event were directed toward humanitarian aid organizations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA, the Gaza Soup Kitchen and HEAL Palestine.
- ‘Macklemore gives us a bit of hope’
Speaking to Anadolu, attendees highlighted the importance of public figures and celebrities showing support for Palestinians, saying their voices offer hope and encourage continued awareness of the situation.
Salem, a British-Palestinian concertgoer whose parents were displaced during the 1948 Nakba, said: “He’s done a fantastic job for the Palestinians. […] But people like Macklemore give us a bit of hope, give us a glimmer of hope that we can change things around a bit.”
Another attendee, Sheila, described the concert as an important demonstration of solidarity, praising Macklemore for continuing to express support for Palestine despite criticism and pressure.
“We are here today in Wembley, where Macklemore is performing his Free Palestine concert. It is absolutely an amazing show of solidarity,” she said.
“It is so important that we have figures like Macklemore in the entertainment industry who have not backed down in the face of repression and attempts to silence them. He has been steadfast in his solidarity with Palestine.”
“I think Ed Sheeran was probably quite surprised by the backlash that he received, but I think it really shows that the tide is turning on this issue,” she underlined.
Anne, another concert attendee, said she had come to support both Macklemore and the Palestinian people, stressing the importance of speaking out against injustice.
Pointing to her earrings bearing the message “No justice, no peace,” she said people must continue raising their voices in support of those suffering.
“We have to treat everybody correctly, and we have to raise our voices and say what is happening, and not be put down by other people’s feelings,” she said.
“There is a genocide going on. There are children dying. There are people in pain, and we have to stand up for that and say: You are not alone. We support you in any way we possibly can.”
Aysu Biçer
