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PRESS RELEASE: Wolf Alice, Mic Righteous and more to take part in “Not the Eurovision” gig in support of Palestinian rights

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Wolf Alice, Mic Righteous and more to take part in “Not the Eurovision” gig in support of Palestinian rights

  • Gig set to take place in London on May 18th; the same day that the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Israel
  • Organisers and artists are seeking to highlight Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights and to oppose attempts to “artwash” Israel’s image through Eurovision
  • Nearly 40,000 people have signed a petition supporting the call from artists in Palestine and beyond to boycott the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest

A number of high profile artists are set to perform a gig entitled “Not the Eurovision: Party for Palestine” taking place on May 18th in central London, to coincide with the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest which will be happening in Tel Aviv at the same time.

The event, organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will feature a performance from rapper Mic Righteous, and DJ sets from alternative rock band and Mercury Prize-winners Wolf Alice, and guitarist of Faithless Dave Randall. More acts are yet to be announced.

Organisers and participating artists are seeking to highlight and protest human rights violations experienced by Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli state, arguing that Israel is deploying “artwashing” tactics by using the Eurovision Song Contest as a way to mask its regime of apartheid and occupation and put forward a “progressive” image to the rest of the world.

This concert is just one element of the worldwide campaign to Boycott Eurovision 2019, led by the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement and supported by many other organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the UK. As part of this campaign, nearly 40000 people have signed a petition calling on public broadcasters to withdraw from the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest hosted by Israel and endorsing the call from artists in Palestine and beyond to boycott the event.

Huda Ammori, Campaigns Officer at Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said:

“Israel cannot hide military occupation and apartheid behind the glitz and glitter of Eurovision. We are organising this gig to show solidarity with the people of Palestine who are having their rights restricted and denied every single day by the Israeli state. We are using our voices to amplify their story, and we call on all those who believe in freedom, justice and equality to join us.”

Alia Malak of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), said:

“The campaign to boycott Eurovision 2019 is growing every day. Hundreds of artists and tens of thousands of people across the world have endorsed the call for public broadcasters and artists to withdraw from the event in support of Palestinian rights and against Israel’s blatant artwashing and pinkwashing of apartheid. In 2005 Palestinian civil society called on the international community to use non-violent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) tactics against Israel’s regime of oppression until it ends its illegal occupation and realises the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people – this campaign is one crucial strand of that movement.”

ENDS

CONTACT: [email protected] / 07590862268

Notes to editors: