Jewish Voice for Peace says the backlash to Macklemore's removal shows support for pro-Palestine speech
Jewish Voice for Peace, in a post in its weekly publication The Wire
“Two years into Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestine organizing, the backlash against Sheeran shows how little patience Americans have for attacks on pro-Palestine speech. It also demonstrates the shift toward support for Palestinian rights among everyday Americans that our movements have helped propel.”
Source and context
Original text
About this source
Jewish Voice for Peace's post in The Wire, published September 24, 2026. It opens with Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour and the reaction to it, then turns to other Palestine-related organizing and legislation.
Before the quotation
JVP's post said Macklemore announced on social media that Ed Sheeran had removed him from the remaining dates of their tour over comments in support of Palestine, and that Robert Kraft reportedly pressured Sheeran to drop him. It also said Sheeran's other opening acts withdrew from the tour within two days, and that protesters gathered at his Philadelphia show, with more protests planned for the Gillette Stadium show.
After the quotation
The rest of the post turns to polling on American Jewish opinion, congressional action on U.S. arms sales to Israel, local divestment campaigns and candidates endorsed by JVP Action.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case looks at Macklemore's speech and his removal from the tour. JVP's post says Macklemore's words "expressed the sentiments of millions" and treats the backlash against Sheeran as a sign of how little patience Americans have for attacks on pro-Palestine speech. That takes Macklemore's side against the removal, so we labeled it Defended or excused.
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- Ed Sheeran
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
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