Protesters gather in Philly ahead of Ed Sheerans first concert since Macklemore kicked off tour
Fired up protesters holding Palestinian flags and anti-Israel signs gathered near Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field ahead of Ed Sheeran’s first show since he canned his opening act, Macklemore, after the rapper made multiple tirades against Israel.A small but loud group of about 30 protesters gathered several blocks away from the venue ahead of the concert’s 8 p.m.start time, some in keffiyehs that covered their faces as held signs that read, “America is the head of the snake,” and “Ready to resist.”The anti-Israel demonstrators, who chanted “Robert Kraft has got to go,” appeared to be out-numbered by a large turn-out of media.With about two hours to showtime, tickets for Sheeran’s stadium show were still available on Ticketmaster in almost every section for as cheap as $32.All of Sheeran’s opening acts — including Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas — and his backing band quit his “The Loop” tour in protest after Macklemore was abruptly booted after stadium owners objected to him delivering an anti-Israel screed at two of his shows.
No replacement opening acts have been named ahead of Saturday’s show.“I wanted to stand up here on stages across America and say two words that are near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” the keffiyeh-clad rapper said to a captive audience at MetLife Stadium on Sept.
4.The Grammy-winning rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, also accused the Jewish State of genocide and apartheid.He went on to perform his song “Hinds Hall,” a tribute to the anti-Israel demonstrators who took over an academic building at Columbia University and briefly trapped two janitors inside as images of the war in Gaza were displayed on a giant screen.
The “Same Love” rapper went on to perform the same hateful diatribe the following night at the Meadowlands, after NFL owners were assured that he wouldn’t.Some Jewish Ed Sheeran fans present at the stadium were devastated by the “Thrift Shop�...