Calls are growing for the AO Arena to reconsider allowing Roger Waters to perform next month over antisemitism concerns. The former Pink Floyd bassist is due to perform in Manchester on June 10, as part of his global tour, This is not a Drill.
His tour has sparked controversy in Germany, where the Frankfurt local authority had tried to block Waters from performing, while in Berlin the 79-year-old appeared to wear an SS (Nazi military) uniform on stage. The show also included the name of Anne Frank - the young Jewish girl that kept a diary of life under Nazi persecution, who later died at a concentration camp - shown on a screen above the stage.
An inflatable pig with a Star of David on it has also previously been seen at one of Waters' gigs. Following concerns raised by Labour MP Christian Wakeford, whose Bury South constituency includes a large Jewish community, it was confirmed that the matter would be raised with the Home Office.
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Speaking in the House of Commons today (May 25), Mr Wakeford told Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt: "The city of Manchester has a rich and vibrant history in which those of different faiths and backgrounds have lived together as well as stood together through difficult times and times of division. So I'm concerned to note that Roger Waters is due to play at the AO Arena in Manchester next month.
"Mr Waters performed in Berlin this week and used the name of Anne Frank to stoke division, performed whilst dressed as an SS soldier and used the Star of David on a giant pig to insinuate that Jewish people run the world, forcing the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester (JRCGM) to issue a statement condemning his divisive actions. Will the Leader of the House agree with me that concerts like this have no place in our society and shouldn't go ahead, and agree to a debate in government time on the record levels in anti-Jewish hatred in this country?"
Ms Mordaunt confirmed the concerns would be raised to Government, adding: "I have to say, I think that the whole house was very shocked at what the honourable gentleman has said. I shall make certain that the Home Office has heard the honourable gentleman's concerns today and I think that this house has made great efforts, particularly in recent years, to ensure that the scourge of antisemitism is addressed and stamped out from our country."
Mr Wakeford also wrote a letter to the AO Arena's management, in which he urged 'caution against this show going ahead', and argued the venue would be 'complicit in the endangering of Jewish lives' if the show went ahead. The MP wrote how his comments came against a backdrop of anti-Jewish hate crimes reaching record levels last year, including a Jewish school in his constituency having to close due to a bomb threat.
Last month, Waters won a legal battle against the Frankfurt council to allow him to perform in the city, after the authority had described him as 'one of the most widely known antisemites in the world'. Waters has denied being antisemitic, and opened his show in Berlin with the statement: "On a matter of public interest: a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite.
"Just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly." But following his recent shows in Germany, the JRCGM has released a statement insisting the planned performance in Manchester 'risks damaging community cohesion'.
It said: "Roger Waters is famous for being a member of one of the most important bands in history. Unfortunately, he is now more synonymous with spreading deeply troubling political views that will rightly concern Jewish and other communities across Greater Manchester.
"We have had sight of his concert in Munich where Waters disguised himself as an SS Officer and flashed Anne Frank's name, arguably the most famous victim of the Holocaust, above the stage. Those who are booking Waters to perform must balance whether it is acceptable to be providing a venue for him to spread these views.
"Jewish communities across Greater Manchester are vibrant and thriving. However, allowing Waters to perform risks damaging community cohesion with the possibility of an increase in hate crime targeting Jewish people."
Roger Waters' representatives and the AO Arena have been approached for comment.
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