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A Pro-Israel Musician Faces Challenges to Artistic Freedom - in the U.S.

(Washington Post) Charles Lane - Matisyahu, the international reggae-hip-hop-rock artist, burst on the scene 20 years ago. NBC picked "One Day," his stirring antiwar anthem, as theme music for its 2010 Winter Olympics coverage. His music reflects his strong Jewish identity, religiosity and affinity for Israel. Since Hamas' massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, the singer has spoken out against rising antisemitism and in support of Israel. He has draped himself in an Israeli flag at concerts and placed an empty chair onstage to represent Israeli hostages in Gaza. He has called for Hamas to be "destroyed" and has visited Israeli troops. For all of that, he is paying a price. His March 8 show at the 1,400-capacity House of Blues in Chicago was canceled. The reason: the potential for unruly protests against him outside the venue. This was the third time during his tour that a concert venue had canceled a show amid protest-related security concerns. Such is the state of artistic freedom in post-Oct. 7 America. No matter where you stand regarding the war in Gaza, or any other issue, this heckler's veto against Matisyahu should trouble you. A major performing artist was denied a stage in the third-largest U.S. city, apparently because of threats from political opponents. Just a handful of entertainment-world colleagues, most also Jews, have expressed solidarity with him, he said.
2024-03-21 00:00:00
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