Photo credit: Deadline
For the palestinian relief nonprofits behind a $1 million pledge from rapper Macklemore, the Grammy winner’s latest contributions offer more than just money.
The Associated Press reports that Macklemore committed to donate his net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after he was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments onstaage at New Jersey’s MeyLife Stadium.
The goal, he wrote in a Wednesday post on social media, was to “bring the conversation to where it belongs” – the Palestinian people – after a 48-hour period that saw four supporting acts quit in solidarity and confusion over who held responsibility for the decision.
The six donation recipients included Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and UNRWA USA, the US nonprofit that raises money for the UN agency that serves Palestinian refugees. In addition to the funding windfall, their leaders welcomed the renewed public awareness of the perilous living conditions faced by the Palestinian people they treat regularly.
“Even if you don’t see bombs falling every night, the rubble is still there,” said Alicia Philips Mandaville, the acting CEO of Anera, another beneficiary. “And the traumatized children are still traumatized.”
Tareq Hailat, the director of strategic engagement at Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, said his phone rings “all the time” with calls from people in Gaza “bleeding and asking for help.”
Israeli operations have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since a fragile ceasefire took effect last October. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggle to get healthcare in the West Bank. Palestinians say water shortages persist. The world’s leading authority on food insecurity warned in July that most Gaza families still weren’t getting nearly enough to eat even as Israel allowed more aid.
Macklemore has long supported Palestinians.
The rapper has long advocated for the plight of Palestinians. He previously pledged the proceeds and streaming royalties from his protest anthems “Hind’s Hall” and “Hind’s Hall 2” to UNRWA USA CEO Mara Kronenfeld.
This latest donation is already catalyzing more gifts. Ms Rachel, a YouTube star and music teacher, announced Thursday that she would donate $1 million to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund and called on others to match the gift.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft – whose Kraft group also owns Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform later this month – said in a Wednesday social media post that he would match Sheeran’s own $2 million donation for aid “in the region.” The post did not specify the gift’s recipients.
Everyday donors appear to be joining efforts like Ms Rachel’s. Online progressive influencers have helped raise more than $72,000 more for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.
