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In Frankfurt am Main, around 500 people protested against the appearance of the Pink Floyd co-founder on Sunday

Photo: Michael Probst / AP

At the controversial concert of the British rock musician Roger Waters, representatives from politics and religious communities in Frankfurt am Main have called for a decisive stand against anti-Semitism, hatred and agitation. The police spoke of around 500 participants in the event "Frankfurt unites against anti-Semitism". Hatred of Jews is to be condemned everywhere in our city," said Frankfurt Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) on Sunday. There is no reason to hate, insult or attack a person because of his religion." The civic duty is to "take a clear stance against anti-Semitism every day."

Josef accused Pink Floyd co-founder Waters of spreading anti-Semitic ideas "under the guise of freedom," "and we don't want someone like that in our city," Josef said.

The Hessian anti-Semitism commissioner, Uwe Becker, also declared that hatred against Jews should not be sung or expressed in any hall in Germany. It is terrible to understand that 85 years after the pogrom night of 1938, the events are trivialized, that hatred and agitation are being spread.

Waters has recently been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism, and there had been a lot of criticism of the British musician's concerts nationwide. Among other things, the 79-year-old has been criticized for his closeness to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which calls for a boycott of the State of Israel and its estates for its actions against the Palestinians.

Waters changes stage show in Frankfurt after police investigation

The Berlin police have started investigations against Waters on suspicion of incitement to hatred. The background is the musician's stage clothing during his concerts on May 17 and 18 in the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. For example, he was seen in videos on social media in a long black coat with epaulettes and a red armband on which a white circle with a symbol is depicted. A week ago, Waters was also on stage in Munich in a black leather coat and with a red armband.

In light of the investigation, the controversial British rock musician has changed parts of his show. Because he knows the history of the Frankfurt Festhalle, he refrains from dressing up "as a demagogue" in the second part of his show, Waters said on Sunday evening. He felt the suffering that had happened to the people in the hall in 1938. He knows that many people accuse him of being an anti-Semite. "I'm not," Waters said, to the cheers of many spectators. For a short time, the musician also burst into tears.

Even before that, Waters had defended himself against the suspicion of incitement. "The elements of my appearance that have been questioned are clearly a statement against fascism, injustice and bigotry in all its forms," said a statement released by a lawyer for Waters.

In the course of the pogrom night, more than 3000,<> Jewish men were rounded up and mistreated in Frankfurt's Festhalle, only to be deported afterwards.

Originally, Waters' show in Frankfurt was to be cancelled due to allegations of anti-Semitism. Waters had filed a lawsuit against it and was upheld by the Frankfurt Administrative Court at the end of April. In its decision, the court had also invoked artistic freedom. It is true that Waters obviously uses a symbolism based on the National Socialist regime in the context of his stage show. However, the appearance did not relativize or glorify the National Socialist atrocities, the court found.

KIM/DPA