In a recent display that is as appalling as it is unsurprising, rapper Macklemore openly declared “F*ck America” during a pro-Palestinian music festival in Seattle. This isn’t just a casual remark; it’s a grievous insult thrown from the stage of the “Palestine Will Live Forever” event—strategically held in the heart of Seattle’s largest Jewish community on the Jewish Sabbath. Macklemore’s performance was riddled with inflammatory rhetoric and support for “resistance” against Israel, a thinly veiled endorsement of Hamas—a recognized terrorist organization by the U.S. and its allies.
The festival, besides being a platform for Macklemore’s vitriol, served another disturbing purpose: fundraising for groups linked to Hamas, including the UNRWA, which itself has been embroiled in controversy for employee involvement in terrorist activities like October 7th. The choice of beneficiaries here is no accident. It aligns perfectly with the underlying agenda of the event—to legitimize and fundraise under the guise of entertainment and resistance, glossing over the violent realities associated with these groups.
Macklemore’s rhetoric plunged deeper into the unacceptable as he accused Israelis of “murdering little kids” and persisted with antisemitic tropes about Jews and money. These remarks are not only historically ignorant but dangerously inciteful, especially considering his influence among young fans. His call to Vice President Kamala Harris to stop supporting Israel, wrapped in threats about political consequences, further exposes his reckless dabbling in complex international politics which he simplistically reduces to villainous caricatures.
It’s imperative that the public, especially political and community leaders, respond not just with criticism but with a reaffirmation of our Democratic values, support of Israel, and the rejection of terrorism in all its forms. The Jewish community’s increased security measures in response to this event speaks volumes about the tangible fears stoked by such rhetoric. We must stand firm against any attempts to undermine our societal cohesion with such divisive and destructive performances.
