Macklemore and Aurora called for solidarity with Palestinians at a sold-out ‘Free Palestine’ benefit concert in Paris last night (October 29).
The show at the Accor Arena was the second of three European dates on the rapper’s ‘Free Palestine Tour’, which he organised after being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour last month following his statements on stage in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Paris concert featured performances from Aurora, French singer Pomme, Portugal. The Man, DJ Habibeats, Redveil, Siba, Tamer Nafar, Xiuhtezcati Martinez and Zeyne, alongside guest speakers and activists.
Addressing the audience, Macklemore said: “All the artists, all the speakers that have come together with one common goal, which is a free Palestine.
“You cannot, you cannot erase a people’s history by ignoring it. We are in a moment right now, a collective awakening, remembering who we are.”
He continued: “I look at the news. I watch the stories. I look at the erasure. We’ve all seen a live-streamed genocide for the past three years in the palm of our hand. You cannot, you cannot dehumanize another human being without dehumanizing yourself.”
Aurora performed her 2019 song ‘The Seed’, taken from her album ‘A Different Kind Of Human (Step 2)’, and later reflected on the event in an impassioned Instagram post.
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“Paris, it was so wonderful to see so many of you show up at yesterday’s show in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” she wrote.
“Every time we speak of Palestine, we also speak of The Congo, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon and Haiti.”
She also highlighted the treatment of women in Iran and Afghanistan, and the importance of public demonstrations, donations, boycotts and political participation.
“We need to use our voices. We need to use our consciousness. We need to use our power. We need to be in action,” she continued.
The Norwegian singer thanked Macklemore for inviting her and collaborator Fredrik Svabø to the show, concluding: “The matters of the world concerns all of us. None of us are free, until we all are free.”
Aurora has previously spoken out in support of Palestinians, notably when she dedicated her performance of ‘The Seed’ at Glastonbury 2024 to children in Palestine.
“It really bothers me, I feel like the leaders of the world try to fuck us over again and again,” she told the crowd at the time. “This is for all the children in Palestine. I cannot believe these shitty people who hurt our future.”
Guest speakers at the Paris show included journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, Game Of Thrones actor Carice van Houten and Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
Video messages of support from actors Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo were also played during the event.
Macklemore launched the tour in Dublin on Monday (October 26), where he was joined by Hozier, Kneecap, Beoga and several other performers.
At that concert, Macklemore addressed his removal from Sheeran’s tour, saying: “Six weeks ago, it was two words. Two words is all that it took. Two words that are rooted in love and liberation. Not against anybody. Not divisive. Not a call for hatred, but a call to recognise our shared humanity. Free Palestine.”
The rapper has also pledged his entire $1million earnings from Sheeran’s tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians.
The ‘Free Palestine Tour’ concludes its initial European run tonight (October 30) at London’s OVO Arena Wembley, with further dates in the US expected to be announced.
All proceeds from the three benefit concerts will support 12 organisations working with Palestinians, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Gaza Soup Kitchen, HEAL Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Anera and UNRWA USA.
