Statement from Mark S, Freedman, Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee Executive Director

Roger Waters is coming to Nashville on Aug. 13. For those of you not conversant with the world of rock and roll, Roger Waters was a founding member of Pink Floyd, a wildly popular band of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Roger Waters is also your garden-variety anti-Semite. Waters likes to claim he is a forceful advocate for human rights and that he opposes the Israeli occupation and Israeli government policies. But this is far from the case.

At past concerts Waters has displayed a huge inflatable pig descending from the rafters and emblazoned with the Star of David, and dollar signs with images of Nazi swastikas projected on background screens. This is nasty stuff.

If you want to complain about an Israeli government policy or practice, well, write a letter to the prime minister. But no, Waters’ actions are reduced to the lowest common denominator — a purveyor of hatred and bigotry. Just shameful.

Thus, we should be concerned that Roger Waters is coming to Nashville. We don’t want him here and we certainly don’t need him here. Waters is also a very prominent and vocal proponent of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions targeted against Israel. The BDS movement was started by Palestinian activists. The real goal of BDS is not to change Israel’s treatment of Palestinians through economic and political pressure; rather it is the elimination of the Jewish State of Israel. Its leaders have said so themselves. You could look it up.

Roger Waters always takes the low road and encourages other prominent musical performers to refuse to perform in Israel. For example, he tried to persuade The Rolling Stones and more recently Radiohead to cancel performances in Israel. Fortunately, most musicians have ignored, and some vocally and forcefully rejected Waters and they have been warmly and enthusiastically received in Israel. Who knows, maybe Waters is doing us a favor by creating more Israel advocates to counter his campaign of bigotry.

So, what shall we do about all this? We could join Waters on the low road and encourage you to boycott his concert that will be staged at the Bridgestone Arena. But then we are reduced to his level. If you want to waste your money to support a bad dude that’s your business.

But if you go to the concert, make your own sign and hold it up during the performance — let it clearly state that there is no room for hatred and bigotry in our great city. Inform Waters that Israel shares democratic values with our country that support human rights while Arabs across the Middle East continue to slaughter each other at an alarming rate. Tell Waters to take his pig back to the poke where it belongs.

Finally, be in touch with the officials of Bridgestone Arena and the concert sponsors, letting them know that by welcoming and supporting a Roger Waters performance sends the wrong message in a city that promotes diversity and respects people of all backgrounds and faiths.

Roger Waters has dubbed his tour “Us + Them." My view is he is very much wrapped up in his “Us” and somehow he manages to send the message that the “Them” deserve scorn and condemnation. It’s all very sad and by standing together we can do much better.

Mark S. Freedman is the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. He can be reached at mark@jewishnashville.org.

Roger Waters’ Jewish Problem Catches Eye of Award-Winning Filmmaker - http://observer.com/2017/07/roger-waters-antisemitism-documentary/

An Interview with Roger Waters - https://www.counterpunch.org/2013/12/06/an-interview-with-pink-floyds-roger-waters/

Hurrah to American Express for Dumping Roger Waters for Anti-Israel Bias - http://observer.com/2016/11/hurrah-to-american-express-for-dumping-roger-waters-for-anti-israel-bias/

Hatred and Discord at UCLA and a Campus Near You - http://www.ccfpeace.org/the-radicalism-of-roger-waters

Anti-Israel comments by Roger Waters make him the ‘odd man out’ - http://www.ccfpeace.org/why-roger-waters-anti-israel-comments-make-him-the-odd-man-out-at-desert-trip-festival/

An Open Letter from Abraham H. Foxman, former Anti-Defamation League National Director - http://www.adl.org/press-center/press-releases/israel-middle-east/adl-open-letter-to-roger-waters.html

Performers Speak Out Against Boycotting Israel & Roger Waters: The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement Unmasked - http://www.ccfpeace.org/about-bds/

“For some reason, it's become very important to Roger to tell artists where to perform. There's so many countries with histories of abuse and slavery, but he's very focused on Israel. To me, he comes off like an anti-Semite."  - Howard Stern, Rolling Stone