Group asks Ziggy Marley to cancel Israel shows
United States-based human rights group CODEPINK is asking for Grammy-winning artiste Ziggy Marley to cancel his upcoming concerts in the country. The son of the late reggae legend Bob Marley is expected to perform in Israel on July 31 and August 1. The group posted an open letter to the artiste on its official website earlier this week in which it stated that Ziggy’s cancellation would show that he supports the move to end Israeli oppression and violence against Palestinians. “Palestinians are calling on the international community to support their struggle for freedom and equality in the same way that was effective in ending South African apartheid. In accordance with your lyrics ‘people for peace more than people for war, and people for justice it’s never too far’, we ask you to cancel your July 31 and August 1, 2018, concerts in Israel,” a portion of the letter read. “Just as artists’ refusal to play Sun City helped end South African apartheid, you cancelling your shows in Israel can have a significant impact towards ending Israeli oppression and violence. Please join the artistic boycott of Israel by cancelling your Israeli concerts”
INCREASING SIGNATURES
The open letter already has close to 4,000 signatures from persons who also support the group’s call for the artiste to cancel his shows.
The group has also been using its Twitter account to reach out to the artiste and just yesterday tweeted that it had been blocked from the artiste’s account.
“We are blocked by @ziggymarley on twitter! We need you to tweet @Ziggy asking him to cancel his concert in Tel Aviv – If Ziggy performs in Israel he will be complicit in Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people! Stop this concert! Take action,” a tweet from Friday read.
Checks made by THE STAR to the artiste’s Twitter account did not produce any evidence that persons were reaching out on the platform demanding that he cancel his upcoming shows.
In fact, there was no evidence at all to suggest that the artiste was aware of the public outcry from CODEPINK.
The only posts on the artiste’s Twitter account referred to shows he has performed on so far as well as promotional work for his recently released album Rebellion Rises.