![People act like musicians standing up for what they believe in is anything new. #FreePalestine [Slyngstad]](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/229b1cbc-f82b-471f-a5b1-7aae0efb6aec.png){kind=link}
Slyngstad | Bluesky
Transcript
A three-panel political comic by Slyngstad highlighting the long history of political activism in music. In the foreground of all three panels, two audience members are seen talking in profile.
Panel 1:
On Stage: A modern musician holding a microphone calls out, “FREE PALESTINE!”
Foreground: One audience member complains, “UGH, WHEN DID MUSICIANS START TO BE SO POLITICAL?”
Panel 2:
On Stage: Freddie Mercury performing at the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert, with the “Live Aid” global logo in the background.
Foreground: The second audience member replies, “START?”
Panel 3:
On Stage: Folk singer Woody Guthrie playing an acoustic guitar with his iconic slogan written across it: “THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS”.
Foreground: The second audience member continues, “MAYBE YOU JUST WEREN’T LISTENING.”
That’s my point, though. The purpose of the live aid concert was to spread a message. I straight up said my opinion would be different if this would have been a “Free Palestine” tour.
But protesting the Israeli genocide wasn’t the purpose of this tour. It wasn’t even Mackelmore’s tour. He did something he knew would put the tour, that he was a guest on, in jeopardy. Even if Ed pushed back against Kraft, it would have almost certainly ended the tour due to the legal dispute.
And honestly, do you think any of this has actually convinced people who weren’t already in support of Palestine to change their minds? If anything, it’s pushed Ed’s fans further away from it.