Protest planned outside Gillette Stadium for Ed Sheeran's Foxborough shows
Massachusetts Peace Action plans a demonstration over Robert Kraft's decision to bar Macklemore from the stadium.
Update, Sept. 25: Both Gillette shows were canceled because of the nor’easter. Read the latest.
A Massachusetts peace group is organizing a protest outside Gillette Stadium this weekend when Ed Sheeran plays Foxborough. It follows Macklemore’s removal from the tour.
Massachusetts Peace Action says it plans to gather at the southeast corner of North Street and Route 1, starting about an hour before the gates open. Sheeran has two nights at Gillette, September 25 and 26, as part of his Loop Tour.
Why Foxborough
Gillette is owned by Robert Kraft, and the protest is aimed at him.
Earlier this month Macklemore said "Free Palestine" during his opening set at MetLife Stadium. Kraft then confirmed he would not let Macklemore perform at Gillette. Kraft said Macklemore’s comments crossed a line and were offensive to the Jewish community. Macklemore alleged Kraft went further and rallied other stadium owners into an ultimatum, though Kraft has not addressed that claim.
Brian Garvey, the group's executive director, criticized Kraft's role. "When a billionaire has this much economic and political influence, his personal decisions can have an outsized effect on public debate and who gets access to major public platforms," he said.
The group says the demonstrations are about more than one concert. They describe the focus as war and militarism abroad and the concentration of wealth and power at home, including US policy toward Palestine, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. They have other events planned the same day at Park Street in Boston and the Big E in Springfield.
What Sheeran has said
He spoke about the situation at his Philadelphia show over the weekend. They were his first public comments on it.
Sheeran called what is happening in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable." He told the crowd his heart had been broken by the scale of the devastation and the loss of civilian lives, and said it is a humanitarian issue and he cannot hide how he feels about it anymore. He also apologized for how he handled the whole situation.
That Philly show had no opening acts at all. The rest of the supporting performers pulled out in solidarity with Macklemore, so Sheeran went on alone.
About 50 protesters showed up outside that one, at Broad and Pattison. Police added officers but nothing happened.
What to watch for
Boston.com reported that reps for Sheeran, Kraft and the stadium did not respond to requests for comment.
Turnout is the main question. About 50 people protested in Philadelphia.
