Nassau County officials demand cancellation of Roger Waters shows

Attorney says performance would violate anti-BDS law

Posted

Nassau County officials are calling for the cancellation of two concerts featuring Roger Waters at the Nassau Coliseum, saying that its operator, Nassau Events Center, would be in violation of a recently passed anti-discrimination law for letting the Pink Floyd bassist perform.

On May 22, Nassau County enacted a law to combat the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions movement, which began in 2005 in an attempt to put political and economic pressure on Israel until the country ends its military occupation of Palestine. Local law 3- 2016 bans companies who support the BDS movement from doing business with Nassau County.

On July 7, Waters took part in a Facebook Live conversation with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, the organization behind the BDS movement.

Waters has been criticized in the past for destroying an inflatable pig at his shows, on which the Star of David was printed. When he received backlash on social media, Waters said that the symbol was representative of Israeli foreign policy.

Nassau County Legislator Howard Kopel (R, D-7), who sponsored local law 3- 2016, researched the implications of Waters performing at a county-run venue. On bringing his findings to Nassau County Attorney Carnell Foskey, the two determined that it would be unlawful for Nassau Events to allow the shows to go on as scheduled.

In a letter addressed to NEC, Foskey wrote that Nassau Coliseum is enabling Waters by giving him a platform on which he can “promote the BDS movement and encourage others to join it.” Such activity, he wrote, is against the local law.

“There is no room for hatred in Nassau.” Kopel wrote in a press release. “Embrace the BDS movement and Nassau will not do business with you.”

NEC responded by saying, "We neither evaluate nor comment on the political views of artists who perform at our venue. It is our obligation and commitment to be fully compliant with our lease and applicable laws, and we are confident that we are adhering to both. We have responded to the Nassau County Attorney on this matter."

The BDS movement “works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law,” according to its website.

As of July 9, the movement was in its 12th year. In 2012, Waters advocated for the BDS movement at a United Nations conference. This year, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia launched a report confirming that Israel’s military occupation of Palestine is tantamount to apartheid.

The BDS movement has also received support from Jewish Voices for Peace, a group that “opposes anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry and oppression,” according to its website.

Despite the attention Waters has brought to the BDS movement, the rock music scene has been divided on the issue. Thom Yorke, frontman of the band Radiohead, received backlash from Waters, fellow musicians and fans after agreeing to play a venue in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 19. Waters told Rolling Stone in an interview that he has attempted to engage with Yorke on the issue, to no avail. Yorke told the entertainment magazine that Waters and other BDS supporters have only contributed to the divisive state of the Middle East.

“The kind of dialogue that they want to engage in is one that's black or white,” he said. “I have a problem with that.”

As of July 14, Roger Waters was still scheduled to play two shows at Nassau Coliseum on Sept. 15 and 16. Waters press team also declined comment.