The US rapper Macklemore has performed live for the first time his new track Hind’s Hall, expressing solidarity with Palestine and condemning Israel’s military campaign, in front of a sellout crowd in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington.
“I stand here today and every day forward for the rest of my life in solidarity with the people of Palestine, with an open heart, in the belief that our collective liberation is at stake – that we all deserve freedom in this life of ours,” Macklemore said in a short speech 40 minutes into his two-hour set.
“Yesterday [Tuesday], I put out a song called Hind’s Hall – can I play it for you guys?” he asked, to a screaming reception from the audience.
As he performed, the red, white and green of the Palestinian flag flashed across the stadium. Behind him a video montage played showing student protesters in the US intercut with footage of politicians and Gaza.
The audience of 5,500 raised their hands as he sang and multiple fans waved keffiyeh – the black and white scarf linked with Palestinian struggle.
Towards the end of the song Macklemore led a chant of “free, free Palestine”, which the crowd repeated back to him. Macklemore later called for an immediate ceasefire.
The artist released his song on social media and YouTube on Tuesday, promising that once it hit streaming services all proceeds would be donated to the UN relief agency Unrwa.
The song gives robust support to Palestine as well as those protesting at US universities against Israel’s activities in Gaza. The title refers to Hamilton Hall, a Columbia University building occupied by students last week and renamed Hind’s Hall by protesters in reference to Hind Rajab, a five-year-old child killed in Gaza.
“If students in tents posted on the lawn / Occupying the quad is really against the law / And a reason to call in the police and their squad / Where does genocide land in your definition, huh?” he raps, referring to the police crackdown against protests.
Israel has said that it is following all international law and that it investigates allegations of abuse by its security forces.
Macklemore’s track addresses Joe Biden, saying “blood is on your hands”, and says he will not be voting for him later this year.
The rapper characterises Israel as “a state that’s gotta rely on an apartheid system to uphold an occupying violent history been repeating for the last 75 [years]”, and says he has experienced support from Jewish people in solidarity with the pro-Palestine protests. “We see the lies in them, claiming it’s antisemitic to be anti-Zionist / I’ve seen Jewish brothers and sisters out there and riding in solidarity and screaming ‘Free Palestine’ with them.”
As well as condemning Israel’s campaign in Gaza, Columbia students are calling for their university to divest from companies linked to Israel – a call that has been repeated in other campuses across the US. Last week New York police arrested more than 100 people protesting at Columbia, including some occupying Hamilton Hall. More than 2,000 people have been arrested over US campus protests.
Macklemore fans Stacey and Matt Johnsen, who had travelled from the bottom of the South Island to see him perform in Wellington, praised the artist for taking a stand.
“I think it’s so cool that someone has finally spoken out,” Stacey said. “He’s down to earth and human.”
“Like anyone else you’re allowed an opinion … nobody wants war, nobody wants innocent people to die or get hurt,” Matt said. “Some other people might be aggressive about it or lean a bit more towards a certain side but that’s not how Macklemore comes across to me.”
The couple felt proud their music hero was taking a risk and hoped Macklemore’s message would resonate with the audience and farther afield. “I would hope it would encourage more people to speak out,” Stacey said.
• This article was amended on 21 May 2024. Hind Rajab was five years old when she was killed, not six.
