There are no words to describe the disgust and contempt I feel for washed-up rocker Roger Waters, of Pink Floyd fame, after his latest stunt at a concert in Berlin in which he appeared on stage in an SS-type uniform and compared Anne Frank to Palestinian journalist who died in a cross-fire between Palestinian terrorists and the Israeli military.
For years now, Waters has used his celebrity to mount the anti-Israel soapbox. Beyond any legitimate criticism of Israel politically, Waters has said things that have led to accusations of anti-Semitism against him. He denies it, but I have to agree with those accusations. His defamation of the memory of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, particularly Anne Frank, is an obscenity, especially on German soil. I also object to his misappropriation of the memory of Sophie Scholl, the Munich University student who was executed by the Nazis during World War II for distributing anti-war pamphlets (The White Rose group).
From an American legal point of view, what Waters did in Berlin would be considered freedom of expression. I get that. But in Europe, including Germany, they don't enjoy the First Amendment rights we have in America. In Germany, Nazi regalia is outlawed. Neo-Nazi groups get around that by designing symbols similar to swastikas and lightning bolts, but not the real thing. This is exactly what Waters tries to do here. Now he is under investigation by German authorities. To the extent what he did may cross the line under German law, I would support the investigation.
This guy is an anti-Semite.
*Update: Here is how the story is being reported by the Berliner Zeitung. Translation by Fousesquawk.
Roger Waters: Police investigate because Nazi uniform
May 26, 2023-12:19
Caption: Roger Waters during his appearance in Munich on 21 May, 2023
Is there an aftermath? The Berlin police have opened an investigation into the musician Roger Waters. The accusation: Incitement to hate (against a group of people).
Berlin. This appearance might have an aftermath. The musician Roger Waters (79) played two concerts last week in the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin (17-18 May). There the co-founder of the band Pink Floyd reportedly appeared in an SS-style uniform with a red armband. He also held a machine gun in his hand and fired fake shots from it. There were also two men beside Waters, who wore helmets similar to those of Wehrmacht soldiers. This is shown in a video on Twitter. The Berliner Zeitung first reported.
Because of this appearance, the Berlin police are now investigating Waters. The accusation: Incitement to hate (against a group of people). A police spokeswoman told this editorial staff: "The Police State Security in the Berlin State Police has opened a criminal investigation into the relevant facts based on suspicion of incitement to hate (Section 140, paragraph 4 State Penal Code). The context in which the clothing worn on stage is consistent with violating the dignity of victims in approving of, glorifying, or justifying the National Socialist violent and arbitrary rule, and therefore, disturbing the public peace." There have been tips from the public.
The Waters appearance also caused outrage in Israel. The Israeli foreign ministry accused Waters on Wednesday of "defiling the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, in Berlin of all places," in the past week.
Waters also criticized in Israel
The reason for the excitement was that during the concert, the names of people killed were shown in huge red letters: Next to the name of the Nazi era-murdered Anne Frank (1929-1945) was the name of Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The reporter was killed in 2022 during an Israeli military operation in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
Waters (79) is criticized for his closeness to the BDS campaign (Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions) among other things. This calls for a boycott of the Israeli state and its properties because of actions against the Palestinians.
At (his) concerts Waters released a balloon in the form of a pig with the Star of David. In his past appearances in Germany, there was always a pig-but without the Star of David.
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