Last night demonstrators outside Radio City Music Hall called on Leonard Cohen to cancel a gig he has planned for Israel in September. The pressure will continue through Cohen's tour this summer. From Adalah:
“With the construction of the Apartheid Wall and Israeli settlements on
Palestinian lands, and on the heels of the brutal Israeli attack on
Gaza that killed over 1,400 Palestinians and injured 5,000 more, the
Palestinian Catastrophe continues and we demand that artists start
taking a courageous and principled stand by refusing to entertain
occupiers and oppressors,” said Riham Barghouti, Palestinian-American
activist with Adalah-NY.
Reports Hannah Mermelstein, "It was good. We gave out 500 flyers in less than an hour to folks
going inside. Some hostility, but more curiosity, and some support."
if Leonard is coming to your town, hand these out to the audience as they enter: Line Flyer
bum link http://artistsagainstapartheid.org/flyers/cohen_a...
A jpg would be better from my point of view. Please post the link if you see it reproduced as a jpg anywhere.
Suzanne, don't take Leonard down to a place by the River Jordan.
Encourage Leonard to play Israel, and comment that Palestinians are human beings with valid grievances.
I agree. Isn't the idea of a boycott to change minds? I think Cohen would have a much greater impact if he chose to use the benefit of the stage he has to make a statement. Engagement has a chance of doing some good by raising awareness. Who would be persuaded if he chose to not play at all?