Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe has pulled out of opening for Ed Sheeran after the tour dropped Macklemore for making "Free Palestine" speeches.
"I have made the decision to withdraw as a support act for Ed Sheeran's 'The Loop' North American Tour. I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.
I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.
I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonization, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland."
https://t.co/qAiT8iYbXz
From our earliest days, Black history has always been American history – and Black folks have profoundly shaped our American culture through music, art, literature, sports, and beyond. One month a year is not sufficient to celebrate the power of the movements and the people who have fought for the rights we enjoy today. That’s something that we have to do each and every day, as we strive to live up to their example and make sure our children and grandchildren remember their stories.
Did you know?
In 1968, 24 Black men in Pittsburgh revolutionized emergency medicine. The Freedom House Ambulance Service was established to provide emergency medical care to underserved Black neighborhoods—creating the world’s first paramedics.