Several hundred people gathered in Frankfurt am Main to voice their stance on Roger Waters, the co-founder of Pink Floyd, as reports circulated about a scheduled concert. The gathering drew attention to the performers on the city’s cultural stage and sparked discussions about artistic expression, responsibility, and the impact of public figures’ viewpoints. This coverage stems from Hessenschau.de, which documented the day’s events and sentiments surrounding the concert plan.
A demonstration took place outside the venue where Waters was set to perform, attracting roughly 400 participants. The rally carried the banner “Frankfurt united against antisemitism,” signaling a collective demand for accountability in artistic circles. Protesters voiced concern over Waters’s alleged antisemitic statements, paid tribute to Holocaust victims, and expressed solidarity with Israel. Many attendees displayed Israeli flags and carried placards with messages such as “We don’t need your teachings” and “We don’t want you here.” The scene reflected a broader debate about where artistic freedom intersects with social responsibility in a public arena.
During the event, Frankfurt’s mayor, Mike Josef, representing the Social Democratic Party, condemned antisemitism in the city and urged unity against hatred targeting Jewish communities. Representatives from the Jewish community underscored that the protest aimed to send a clear message against discrimination. A community statement echoed the sentiment, stressing opposition to the presence of a public figure deemed an anti-Semite in a prominent venue and urging concrete action to address concerns about bigotry.
The Frankfurt concert had been banned on grounds of alleged antisemitism, a decision Waters challenged in court and ultimately succeeded in overturning. The legal outcome underscored ongoing tensions between perceptions of speech and the rights of artists in public performance settings.
Concurrently, Berlin’s police announced an investigation into Waters on suspicion of inciting hatred. The inquiry centered on stage outfits worn at two Berlin performances in May, including a long black jacket with shoulder straps and a red armband featuring a white circle and symbol. A police spokesperson commented that such attire resembles symbols associated with a dark chapter of history, raising concerns about potential humiliation of Nazi victims and the possibility of stoking nationalist sentiments that could disrupt public order.
Waters denied accusations of inciting hatred, stating that his remarks at performances were outspoken against fascism, injustice, and bigotry. He argued that critics were attempting to link his artistic presentation to political motives, insisting that his life’s work has been defined by opposition to oppression and authoritarianism. The musician asserted that the protests were politically motivated attempts to discredit his message and to silence dissenting voices in the arts.
Earlier reporting noted a separate demonstration in Berlin titled in support of Waters. Citizens advocating for freedom of expression took to the streets, celebrated with scenes of music and dancing to Pink Floyd tracks, and displayed images of Waters throughout the city bearing the caption “Welcome to Germany.” These expressions framed a wider conversation about the balance between expression, historical memory, and the boundaries of public conduct in a democratic society. (Source attribution: Hessenschau.de)