Altered Show – Waters in Tears: “I’m Not an Anti-Semite!”

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After the big fuss and police investigations, former Pink Floyd bassist and singer Roger Waters did without a leather jacket and bracelet during his performance in Frankfurt. Originally, he wanted to disguise himself as a “demagogue”. There was also no lack of strong emotions.

Following a police investigation into hate speech, controversial rock musician Roger Waters showed up in Frankfurt without a leather jacket and bracelet. Because he knows the history of the Frankfurt Festhalle, he does it without a kit, Waters said at the start of his two-and-a-half-hour concert on Sunday evening. The co-founder of the rock band Pink Floyd has been accused of anti-Semitism on several occasions.

That is why hundreds of people had previously demonstrated in front of the Festhalle against his actions, including the mayor of Frankfurt, Mike Josef (SPD). He accused Waters of spreading anti-Semitic ideas “under the guise of freedom, and we don’t want someone like that in our town”.

Controversial location
During the pogrom night in 1938, more than 3,000 Jewish men were rounded up, detained and abused in the Frankfurt Festhalle, the venue for the concert, before finally being deported. Waters said he felt the suffering that befell the people of that place. He knows that many people accuse him of being an anti-Semite. “I don’t,” Waters said to the cheers of many viewers. The musician also briefly burst into tears:

Political statements
At concerts, the 79-year-old also released pig-shaped balloons with a Star of David. Sunday evening there was also such a balloon in Frankfurt, but just like the other previous concerts in Germany without the Star of David. However, an animation featuring pigs was also projected onto the screens for the Pink Floyd classic “Money”. Political slogans and slogans appear there in quick succession on other Pink Floyd classics from albums like “The Dark Side of the Moon”, “Wish You Were Here” and “Animals”, as well as on solo songs by Waters – Against Capitalism, War , militarism and other topics. The musician spoke several times and made political statements.

“We don’t need your education”
At the memorial and protest event for the Festhalle, representatives of politicians, religious communities and civil society had previously called for decisive action against anti-Semitism, hatred and hate speech. Michaela Fuhrmann, Head of Political Relations at the Jewish Community of Frankfurt, said the aim was to take a stand against anti-Semitism, against hatred of Israel and against conspiracy theories. The police spoke of about 500 participants. Some of them held up signs that read “Israel, we are by your side” and “Roger Waters, wish you were not here” and “Roger Waters, we don.” don’t need your education” (Roger Waters, we don’t need your education) as a reference to two of Pink Floyd’s most famous songs, on which Waters was one of the singers.

“Jew-hatred should be condemned everywhere in our city, but it is unbearable that the voice of Jew-hatred is being raised again here in this place,” said Mayor Josef (SPD). This should not be repeated. “There is no reason to hate, insult or attack anyone because of their religion.” The civic duty is “to show a clear edge against anti-Semitism every day”. The Hessian anti-Semitism commissioner Uwe Becker (CDU) also stated that Jew-hatred should not be sung about or expressed in any room in Germany. It is appalling to understand that 85 years after the pogrom night of 1938, the events are trivialized, hatred and hate speech are spread.

Police investigation
On Friday it was also announced that the Berlin police have launched an investigation against Waters on suspicion of incitement to hatred. The background is the musician’s stage clothing during his concerts on May 17 and 18 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. In social media videos, he was seen wearing a long black coat with epaulettes and a red bracelet with a white circle with a symbol. A week ago, Waters also took the stage in Munich in a black leather jacket and red bracelet.

“Statement against fascism”
Waters had already defended himself against the suspicion of incitement to hatred before the concert in Frankfurt. “The elements of my performance that have been questioned are clearly a statement against fascism, injustice and bigotry in all its forms,” ​​said a statement from a Waters lawyer.

Waters’ show in Frankfurt was originally scheduled to be canceled over allegations of anti-Semitism. Waters had sued against it and at the end of April the Frankfurt Administrative Court ruled in favor. In its ruling, the court also referred to artistic freedom. In his show, Waters clearly uses a symbolism based on the National Socialist regime. The court ruled that the performance did not relativize or glorify National Socialist atrocities.

Source: Krone

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