Four Tet, Caribou and The Black Madonna show support for #DJsForPalestine
Dozens of DJs are endorsing the Palestinian call for the cultural boycott of Israel
Four Tet, Caribou and The Black Madonna (pictured) are among the dozens of DJs and producers endorsing the Palestinian call for the cultural boycott of Israel, posting with the hashtag #DJsForPalestine.
The movement has also been supported by Discwoman, Deadboy and Laurel Halo, who all shared the same message reading: "As long as the Israeli government continues its brutal and sustained oppression of the Palestinian people we respect their call for a boycott of Israel as a means of peaceful protest against the occupation."
Former Mixmag cover star Ben UFO is also a supporter, posting on Instagram: "My personal history on this issue is that I travelled to play at The Block in Tel Aviv in 2013. I made several friends there, who I've stayed in touch with, and who I spoke with about the cultural boycott of Israel after I decided to decline further invitations to play. I wasn't well informed then, and my experience of travelling there was what gave me the impetus to read and learn more.’
He continued: "Having been asked to participate in this campaign, I felt it would be dishonest to continue to say nothing. I'm still really hopeful that one day I'll be able to play in Israel again.
"For me this is primarily an issue of solidarity, and an exercise in listening. My position on this issue is part of a more general politics of anti-racism, which I hope that I can live up to."
The support for the Palestinian call for the cultural boycott of Israel follows a series of cancellations from Israel’s Meteor Festival last week. In addition to headliners Lana Del Rey and indie band of Montreal, many DJs were among the acts to withdraw, including Shlohmo, Leon Vynehall and Honey Dijon.
Shlohmo wrote on Twitter: "Sorry to the fans I'm letting down and to the festival staff but supporting the oppressed thru my absence is more important to me especially after the government's recent human rights atrocities."
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) said: "We welcome the DJs, producers, record labels, collectives and electronic musicians today endorsing the Palestinian call for the cultural boycott of Israel."
It added: "Cultural boycott played a key role in the South African anti-apartheid movement, with progressive artists refusing to whitewash the oppression of the Black majority. There should be no business-as-usual with Israel’s regime of occupation, apartheid and settler-colonialism as long as it denies Palestinians our fundamental rights."
The group also thanked supporters for their "meaningful solidarity with our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality."
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Luke Rodgers is a freelance journalist, follow him on Twitter