Civil society alliance: Cancellation of the Roger Waters concert in the Festhalle crucial

[The German Press Release / Presseerklärung & further protest resources can be found HERE.]

An alliance of civil society institutions and private individuals underlines the necessity of cancelling the Roger Waters concert in Frankfurt’s Festhalle. Antisemitic narratives play a central role in the major events of the musician, who has made a name for himself in recent years primarily as a protagonist of anti-Israel agitation. Clarification of how it was possible for a contract for the Festhalle, a historical scene of anti-Jewish violence during the November pogroms, to be signed with Waters in the first place, is urgently needed.

In the visuals of the former Pink Floyd member’s monumental stage events, stars of David were associated with dollar signs, among other things. Stars of David were also placed on inflatable pigs, which were usually symbolically destroyed at the end of the concerts to the cheers of the audience. The current program, “This Is Not A Drill”, is explicitly meant to represent Waters’ political program: “If you’re here because you like Pink Floyd but can’t stand Roger Waters’ politics, then fuck off to the bar”, visitors are greeted, according to concert reports from the USA. So, this mass event planned in Frankfurt is said to be a gathering to identify with Waters’ hatred of Israel and his calls for a boycott of the inhabitants of the Jewish state.

A known antisemite, conspiracy theorist and Israel-hater like Roger Waters, should not be given a stage anywhere. There is not the slightest question that artistic freedom should prevail in this case. For decades, Roger Waters has been filling gigantic music halls with a program filled with antisemitic narratives and Israel-hatred, calling for discrimination against Jewish-Israeli artists on the basis of their origins, while successfully pressuring those of his fellow musicians, who want to perform in Israel. His theories, including those about the Russian war of aggression in the Ukraine, allegedly having been provoked by the USA, cannot be tolerated. Not supporting his campaigns is in itself a contribution to the defense of artistic freedom.

Under National Socialism, the Festhalle was a central site of anti-Jewish violence and humiliation in Frankfurt. More than 3,000 Jews were deported to the Nazi concentration camps of Dachau and Buchenwald via the Festhalle and Südbahnhof during the November pogroms.

Today, the Festhalle is 60% owned by the City of Frankfurt and 40% by the State of Hesse. A contract with Waters should never have been entered into. It is to be welcomed that well-known politicians from the major parties have spoken out in favor of a cancellation of the contract in recent weeks. Now words must be followed by deeds and relevant resolutions! The German-Israeli Friendship Society (DIG) and its partners (see below) have assembled a broad civil society alliance to lend weight to the demand for a cancellation of the show, as well as in favor of a responsible handling of the sensitive history of the Festhalle in Frankfurt, but also in other cities where Waters concerts are planned.

No antisemitism, no defamation and no contempt for humanity.
No stage for Roger Waters in Germany!

Further information about the protest, including information about how to join the campaign,
can be found on the page: http://waters-go-home.honestly-concerned.org

The Coalition hopes that combating antisemitism in Germany means more than just dutifully making speeches on commemorative occasions. This is the time to turn words into deeds – in terms of historical responsibility for venue halls like the Festhalle, as well as in terms of a clear commitment against antisemitism. On this basis, previous resolutions at the municipal and national levels, which have been directed against antisemitism in all its forms, should also be backed up with corresponding legal resolve, so that contracts with antisemitic agitators and conspiracy theorists do not even make it to the signing stage in future. Freedom of expression is a great privilege, but without any doubt, this fundamental right does have limits, when it comes to our most precious constitutional right – human dignity – and its protection in public space – especially in premises owned by the city and the state – which has to be safeguarded!

In case of questions, representatives of the alliance will be happy to answer them under the e-mail address:
roger-waters-nicht-willkommen@t-online.de

Initiative Members of the alliance are:

German-Israeli Friendship Society e.V., Frankfurt Group
Youth Forum of the German-Israeli Friendship e.V. (JUFO)
Jewish Community Frankfurt K.d.ö.R.
Ralph Hofmann, President B’nai B’rith Frankfurt Schönstädt Lodge e.V.
Honestly Concerned e.V.
ILI – I Like Israel e.V.
Dr. Orna von Fürstenberg, member of the representative council Frankfurt Jewish Community
Simone Hofmann, activist and member of several boards
Association of Jewish Students Hesse (VJSH)
And others…