Hats off to that intrepid group
of campaigners in Inminds who picketed a gig of the Rag’n’Bone Man at the O2,
Brixton. As a result they drew his
attention to the nature of the Israeli state and what playing there would mean.
of campaigners in Inminds who picketed a gig of the Rag’n’Bone Man at the O2,
Brixton. As a result they drew his
attention to the nature of the Israeli state and what playing there would mean.
Although most of people’s
attention is on BDS and the economic boycott of Israel, it is the Cultural Boycott
that has the greatest impact on Israel’s psyche. Just as in South Africa it shows to Israelis
themselves that their country is unique.
Whilst they may be able to make friends with corrupt and repressive Arab
regimes such as Saudi Arabia they will never be accepted by opponents of racism
or supporters of human rights.
attention is on BDS and the economic boycott of Israel, it is the Cultural Boycott
that has the greatest impact on Israel’s psyche. Just as in South Africa it shows to Israelis
themselves that their country is unique.
Whilst they may be able to make friends with corrupt and repressive Arab
regimes such as Saudi Arabia they will never be accepted by opponents of racism
or supporters of human rights.
For those who, like me, are not
up on the Rag’n’Bone Man or Rory Charles Graham you can read up on him here. In 2017, Rag’n’Bone Man won the British Breakthrough Act
and Choice Award at the 2017
Brit Awards. He also won
International Newcomer and International Male Artist at the 2017 Echo Awards in
Germany and was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Push Artist at the MTV
European Music Awards 2017 and Révélation Internationale de l’année
(International Breakthrough Act) at the NRJ Music Awards France in November
2017
up on the Rag’n’Bone Man or Rory Charles Graham you can read up on him here. In 2017, Rag’n’Bone Man won the British Breakthrough Act
and Choice Award at the 2017
Brit Awards. He also won
International Newcomer and International Male Artist at the 2017 Echo Awards in
Germany and was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Push Artist at the MTV
European Music Awards 2017 and Révélation Internationale de l’année
(International Breakthrough Act) at the NRJ Music Awards France in November
2017
inminds
25 November 2017
25 November 2017
Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside
Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton
Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton
During a vigil outside his performance at the O2 Academy in Brixton on 24th
November 2017, the award winning English musician songwriter Rag’n’Bone Man
(Rory Charles Graham), after talking to the protestors via his manager,
publicly announced cancellation of his scheduled performance in Tel Aviv next
May.
Inminds human rights group’s vigil outside the O2
Academy in Brixton urging Rag’n’Bone Man to respect the Palestinian call for a
cultural boycott of apartheid Israel and cancel his scheduled performance in
Tel Aviv on 16th May 2018, was met by incredible support from both the fans and
passers-by with hundreds of leaflets being snapped up in no time and people
hugging and congratulating us for being there.
Academy in Brixton urging Rag’n’Bone Man to respect the Palestinian call for a
cultural boycott of apartheid Israel and cancel his scheduled performance in
Tel Aviv on 16th May 2018, was met by incredible support from both the fans and
passers-by with hundreds of leaflets being snapped up in no time and people
hugging and congratulating us for being there.
It was less than 30 minutes into the vigil, when a
person from Rag’n’Bone Man’s team came out holding a mobile phone with
Rag’n’Bone Man’s manager on the line. Rather than ignore us Rag’n’Bone Man had graciously
decided to engage with the protestors. We explained why we were protesting. The
manager told us that we were all on the same side on this one, he explained
that they had tried to find a venue to also perform for Palestinians but due to
the occupation that was not possible so would no longer be performing in
Israel.
person from Rag’n’Bone Man’s team came out holding a mobile phone with
Rag’n’Bone Man’s manager on the line. Rather than ignore us Rag’n’Bone Man had graciously
decided to engage with the protestors. We explained why we were protesting. The
manager told us that we were all on the same side on this one, he explained
that they had tried to find a venue to also perform for Palestinians but due to
the occupation that was not possible so would no longer be performing in
Israel.
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
We felt that with the noisy background it was
perhaps not the best time to explain that performing for both audiences
wouldn’t have made it ok, any more than it would be ok to perform for the Third
Reich by balancing it with a performance for the besieged Jews of the Warsaw
Ghetto. It draws equivalence between oppressor and oppressed, between occupier
and occupied, and as such normalises the oppression of the Palestinian people.
perhaps not the best time to explain that performing for both audiences
wouldn’t have made it ok, any more than it would be ok to perform for the Third
Reich by balancing it with a performance for the besieged Jews of the Warsaw
Ghetto. It draws equivalence between oppressor and oppressed, between occupier
and occupied, and as such normalises the oppression of the Palestinian people.
We thanked him for his decision, but with great
respect, we insisted on a public statement of his decision to cancel his
performance in apartheid Israel, and then we would happily end the protest. In
the past, performers have made private statements of intent, only later to
renege under pressure, and end up in Tel Aviv.
respect, we insisted on a public statement of his decision to cancel his
performance in apartheid Israel, and then we would happily end the protest. In
the past, performers have made private statements of intent, only later to
renege under pressure, and end up in Tel Aviv.
 |
| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
15 minutes later the person from Rag’n’Bone Man’s
team returned, again holding a mobile phone. He told us that Rag’n’Bone Man had
agreed, and showed us on the mobile phone a public tweet Rag’n’Bone Man had
just sent (6:44pm): “Unfortunately the show scheduled to take place on the
16th May 2018 in Tel Aviv has been cancelled.” The Israel gig date was
also removed from his website.
team returned, again holding a mobile phone. He told us that Rag’n’Bone Man had
agreed, and showed us on the mobile phone a public tweet Rag’n’Bone Man had
just sent (6:44pm): “Unfortunately the show scheduled to take place on the
16th May 2018 in Tel Aviv has been cancelled.” The Israel gig date was
also removed from his website.
We thanked Rag’n’Bone Man over the PA system for
his principled stand for justice in support of the oppressed Palestinians and
urged other performers to learn from Rag’n’Bone Man’s integrity. There was a
roar of applause and cheers from the fans.
his principled stand for justice in support of the oppressed Palestinians and
urged other performers to learn from Rag’n’Bone Man’s integrity. There was a
roar of applause and cheers from the fans.
Inminds chair Abbas Ali said “We have been
holding cultural boycott protests for over 5 years, it is very rare to come
across an artist like Rag’n’Bone Man who lives by his principles and genuinely
puts humanity before profit. Respect!”
holding cultural boycott protests for over 5 years, it is very rare to come
across an artist like Rag’n’Bone Man who lives by his principles and genuinely
puts humanity before profit. Respect!”
Inminds Human Rights Group
www.inminds.com
fb.com/inmindscom
twitter.com/InmindsCom
youtube.com/user/inminds
www.inminds.com
fb.com/inmindscom
twitter.com/InmindsCom
youtube.com/user/inminds
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
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| Inminds ‘Cancel Apartheid Israel’ vigil outside Rag’n’Bone Man performance O2 Academy Brixton |
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