Macklemore calls for Palestine at first show after tour exit

Macklemore called for freedom for Palestine and condemned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during his first performance since leaving Ed Sheeran’s North American tour, taking the stage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on October 22. He also voiced support for people affected by conflicts and injustice in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and Haiti. The rapper performed a 17-song set at the Colorado venue. In remarks to the audience, he said that responding to suffering was a human concern, then repeated his call for a free Palestine. He also expressed solidarity with people in the United States who fear leaving their homes because of ICE. He closed the message by saying that its message would always be love, according to accounts of the performance. The show was his first since his removal from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop tour. The dispute followed a September performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Macklemore spoke in support of Palestinians and performed Hinds Hall, his 2024 protest song. His remarks drew criticism from the Israeli-American Council and others, while Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, objected to...