At least four artists withdrew from the festival, joining fifteen others since 2017.
Palestinians thank Lafawndah (and bandmate Trustfall), Alewya, Franky Gogo and Gigsta for withdrawing from @popkulturberlin, that is partnered with apartheid Israel #PK22
https://bdsmovement.net/news/boycott-pop-kultur-2022
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Four artists have withdrawn from Pop Kultur Berlin this year, in protest at its partnership with apartheid Israel! They join at least fifteen others to have boycotted the music festival since 2017, responding to private and public appeals from human rights defenders.
Parisian artist Lafawndah wrote in her eloquent statement that “the festival’s stance is an effective show of support for racism, colonial brutality and murder, despite its savvy marketing language touting inclusion, diversity and tolerance.”
Click to tweet at Pop Kultur
But Pop Kultur Berlin is still insisting on continuing its partnership with apartheid Israel, claiming that artwashing Israel’s apartheid regime and massacres in Gaza is “common practice”. It must have missed the thousands of artists who have endorsed the cultural boycott of Israel.
Even now, prominent German politicians allied to the festival are condemning the campaign and the principled artists who supported it and launching cynical smears against them. Let’s show once again that our collective impact is greater than these desperate, anti-Palestinian attacks.
Click to tweet at Pop Kultur
Not on Twitter? You can also copy the below comment and post it onto the festival’s Instagram & Facebook pages.
Thank you Lafawndah & Trustfall, Alewya, Franky Gogo and Gigsta for withdrawing from #PopKulturBerlin! All artists should boycott the festival until it drops its partnership with apartheid Israel. No progressive festival artwashes massacres. #PK22
In solidarity,
Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
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TAKE NOTE:
The nonviolent BDS movement for freedom, justice and equality is supported by the absolute majority in Palestinian society. BDS rejects all forms of racism and racial discrimination.