Sheeran urged to drop Macklemore from tour

American rapper Macklemore called out “Free Palestine” during his opening set for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Friday night, drawing cheers from parts of the crowd and angry reactions from Israeli concertgoers and a Jewish American group.

Macklemore, who was one of several opening acts ahead of Sheeran, made the comments before tens of thousands of people and later launched into his anti-Israel protest song “Hind’s Hall” at the stadium, which has a capacity of more than 80,000.

“I want the people from Gaza to the occupied West Bank to know that we have not forgotten them,” Macklemore told the audience, according to the Ynet news site. “I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom — to know safety and peace before knowing the sounds of violence, and to know the sound of laughter on the playground before aeroplanes and bombs.”

Macklemore went on to say he would not allow fear or concern for his own comfort or the audience’s to prevent him from speaking his mind. He then called out “Free Palestine, free Cuba, the Congo, Sudan and Iran,” and denounced the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which he called a “terror organisation.”

Following the remarks, Macklemore performed “Hind’s Hall” as footage from Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations was shown on the large screens behind him. Images of Israeli soldiers and pro-Palestinian messages were also displayed during the song.