Sleaford Mods call for ceasefire in Gaza after cutting Madrid concert short after fan threw Palestinian scarf
Sleaford Mods singer Jason Williamson has shared a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza following a public backlash to the band curtailing a performance in Madrid after a fan threw a Palestinian scarf onto the stage.
Following footage of Williamson departing the stage surfaced on social media, he wrote on Twitter: “Don’t be asking me to pick sides for something I ain’t got any real idea about, at a gig.” Sleaford Mods were later criticised by Bob Vylan, who labelled them and Idles as “cowardly” during a Dublin show on November 9th.
After having a week to consider events, Williamson shared on Twitter: “Some context is needed about Madrid. I’m horrified by the atrocities committed in Gaza and Israel and I’m horrified by the atrocities committed elsewhere in the world that are not in the current news cycle. I’m angry about the manipulation of human grief and rage by politicians, the media, agitators, and social media platforms to stoke the fire of separation, dehumanisation, division and hate.”
“In Madrid the show was repeatedly interrupted by someone in the audience shouting and throwing a flag/scarf on stage. I stopped the show to make comment, condemned civilian deaths and called for no more killing,” he continued.
Further explaining his actions, Williamson said: This wasn’t enough and the interruptions continued. I walked off stage after 80 minutes as the cumulative effect was distracting and upsetting. The tweet in the aftermath was an attempt to apologise to those at the show, not comment widely on the ongoing atrocities.”
He concluded by writing: “I’m as overwhelmed as you are and I don’t have the answers, all I know is we are all human and there needs to be a meaningful ceasefire. The slaughter needs to stop. No more. No more killing. NO MORE. Jason.”
Last week, many prominent British artists, such as The Last Dinner Party, The Blessed Madonna, Reverend and The Makers, and many more, signed an open letter from The Peace and Justice Project calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
See the statement by Sleaford Mods below.
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