The Creative Community For Peace (CCFP) organization released a letter with the support of many prominent Jewih organizations calling on Bertelssman Music Group (BMG) to reconsider its business relationship with Roger Waters. The non-profit entertainment industry organization was joined by 14 of the world’s leading Jewish organizations.
CCFP is a non-profit entertainment industry organization comprised of prominent members of the entertainment community who’ve come together to promote the arts as a means to peace and to educate about rising antisemitism.
The letter comes in response to Roger Waters’ recent concerts in Germany where he performed in a Nazi-like uniform and compared Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Aqleh journalist to young Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
“We believe that artists, given their massive influence in the world today, have a unique and important responsibility to speak out against bigotry. Mr. Waters has repeatedly shown that he's determined to do the opposite – and would instead use his voice, his platform, and his public microphone to fan the flames of hatred,” the letter reads.
The following organizations signed onto the letter:
- Creative Community For Peace
- American Jewish Committee
- Anti-Defamation League
- Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council
- B’nai B’rith International
- Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Canada
- Community Security Trust
- Conference of European Rabbis
- Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
- Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France
- European Jewish Congress
- Simon Wiesenthal Center
- South African Jewish Board of Deputies
- World Jewish Congress
- Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (Central Council of Jews in Germany)
The letter also highlights the growing consensus about Waters’ dangerous behavior among governmental institutions, noting: “the US State Department also stated that Waters’ recent concert "contained imagery deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust." The State Department added that, "The artist in question has a long track record of using antisemitic tropes to denigrate Jewish people."
“For over a decade, Roger Waters has peddled and promoted antisemitism and leveraged his immense platform to spread his hateful views to millions worldwide. As we witness the continued rise of antisemitism, his words and actions are unacceptable. Our letter demonstrates the Jewish community’s concern that corporations cannot sit idly by while their business partners promote hate. We hope BMG reflects on their historical role with antisemitism and reexamines their relationship with Mr. Waters,” stated Ari Ingel, Director of Creative Community for Peace.