Macklemore’s upcoming “Free Palestine” tour later this month will help fund an organization that celebrated the deadly Oct. 7 terror attacks.
After the 43-year-old rapper was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” after he repeatedly called for a “Free Palestine” and performed his anti-Israel song “Hind’s Hall” last month, Macklemore announced that he would be launching his “Free Palestine” tour in retaliation. The tour includes three shows in Dublin on Oct. 26, in Paris on Oct. 29 and in London on Oct. 30, respectively.
According to the tour’s website, all proceeds will go to one of twelve organizations, including the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), whose leadership has come under fire for several controversial statements.
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The Jewish News Syndicate reported that the PYM’s U.K. chapter has been accused of defending Hamas’ actions during the terror attack three years ago that led to approximately 1,200 casualties and 251 civilians being taken hostage. The organization reportedly referred to these actions as “legitimate” and “effective.”
Just days after the original attack, a female speaker from the Palestinian Youth Movement was heard cheering the Hamas attacks and terrorists during a protest outside the Israeli consulate in New York.
“Thank you…for raising your voices to celebrate the glorious victory of the resistance. And to honor our martyrs and [we’re] marching to show those here in the heart of the empire that they will never defeat our struggle. They have failed to break the unity of our people, and they have failed to dampen the revolutionary spirit of our people who grow stronger every day,” the woman said.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Macklemore’s representatives and the PYM for comment.
In a comment to Fox News Digital, the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), a U.K.-based Jewish organization, called for better efforts to vet Macklemore’s charitable organizations and protect Jewish citizens.
“When the Palestinian Youth Movement praises young people joining armed factions and describes the 7 October massacre as a ‘prison break’, it risks legitimising violence against Jews. At a time of grave violence and threats against Jewish communities, Live Nation must show how it will protect Jewish audiences and staff from antisemitic incitement and harassment,” the JLC said.
It continued, “PYM’s inclusion as a beneficiary of Macklemore’s concert raises serious questions about Live Nation’s vetting of the organisations it helps fund. We need a clear account of the checks undertaken, who will ultimately receive the proceeds and what safeguards will prevent the money being used to fund conduct that threatens the safety of Jews in this country.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Live Nation for comment but did not immediately receive a reply.
The Israeli-American Council, which demanded Macklemore be removed from Sheeran’s tour last month, said his recent actions “reinforce the concerns that led the IAC to launch its petition.”
“Our objection was never to his right to support Palestinians,” the group said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “It was to the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric that disregards the suffering and humanity of Jews and Israelis.”
“Robert Kraft and his fellow stadium owners showed admirable moral leadership when they refused to give Macklemore a platform to voice his message of discrimination and antisemitism. Live Nation and the concert organizers must now publicly explain their vetting process and ensure that concert proceeds do not benefit organizations that justify violence against innocent civilians. Our message to them remains: ‘Your show, your stage, your responsibility,’” the statement continued.
In addition to the tour, Macklemore announced on Instagram last month that he would be donating the $1 million he earned as part of Sheeran’s tour to six organizations, including Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA).