Jewish group slams Roger Waters as anti-Semitic
Ahead of concert, Greater Miami Jewish Federation says Pink Floyd founder and his ‘vile messages of hatred’ are not welcome in city
A Jewish association in Miami accused Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters of being anti-Semitic as he prepared to give a concert in the city on Thursday.
For years the former bass player has been urging musicians not to perform in Israel.
“Your vile messages of anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and hatred are not welcome in our community,” said a statement from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
“Mr. Waters, stop openly calling for support of a cultural boycott of Israel,” it added.
Waters, 73, was to perform Thursday evening at the American Airlines Arena as part of a tour to promote a solo album.
Waters is currently on tour in the US and Canada and is expected to stop in 46 cities for 61 concerts over the next several months to promote “Is This the Life We Really Want?”
In 2013, the Anti-Defamation League, having previously defended Waters against charges of anti-Semitism, acknowledged that “anti-Semitic conspiracy theories” have “seeped into the totality” of the former Pink Floyd frontman’s views.
The bassist and vocalist, an outspoken critic of Israel, is known for publicly harassing artists scheduled to visit the country or perform there. His latest target was Radiohead, scheduled to perform in Israel next week. But the band pushed back. It rejected a letter aimed at pressurring it into canceling — signed by dozens of artists, and spearheaded by Waters and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement — and called the criticism “patronizing in the extreme.”
Israel’s defenders have denounced the boycott campaign as hypocritical, saying the democratic country has been singled out when some prominent musicians are willing to play in dictatorships.
A cultural boycott campaign against Israel has had limited success. Stevie Wonder pulled out of a Friends of the IDF benefit in Los Angeles and Lauryn Hill scrapped an Israel show but numerous major names including Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Santana, Lady Gaga, and Bon Jovi have performed in recent years. Rod Stewart and Britney Spears played in Tel Aviv recently and Guns N’ Roses are due to perform there on Saturday night.
