Pro-Palestinian Group Claims Victory Over Cancelation of Matisyahu Concert in Chicago
A pro-Palestinian group is celebrating what they are calling a victory after popular Jewish musician Matisyahu’s concert in Chicago was canceled due to the threat of protests. The Live Nation ticket event page confirmed the cancelation of the sold-out show at the House of Blues Chicago.
Matisyahu took to social media to express his disappointment over the cancelation, stating that there were no threats of violence received by their security team. Despite the setback, Matisyahu announced that the money refunded by the House of Blues Chicago will be donated to Bring Them Home Now for the families of hostages in Gaza and Israel’s United Hatzalah emergency medical organization.
The musician vowed not to cower to the pressure exerted by the cancelation and emphasized the importance of standing tall against hate and working towards peace for all. This is not the first time Matisyahu has had concerts canceled, with similar incidents occurring in Tuscon and Santa Fe last month, which he attributed to antisemitism.
The U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) celebrated their “Chicago victory” on social media, claiming that their relentless pressure led to the cancelation of Matisyahu’s concert. They called on supporters to demand the cancelation of the show and organized a protest outside the venue.
Both the House of Blues and Live Nation have yet to comment on the cancelation. Last month, Matisyahu faced similar protest calls at the Rialto Theater in Tucson, Ariz., and the Meow Wolf venue in Santa Fe, N.M., with both venues citing safety concerns as the reason for canceling the shows.
Despite the challenges, Matisyahu remains committed to his music and standing against hate. The cancelation of his Chicago concert has sparked a debate on artistic expression, intellectual honesty, and empathy between people with different views and concerns.
