Seminal instances from the 'Together for Palestine' event held at London's Wembley Arena
Together for Palestine: A Powerful Concert in Support of Palestinian Rights
On September 17, 2022, thousands gathered at London's Wembley Arena for a fundraising event called "Together for Palestine." The event, curated by Brian Eno, was held in support of Palestinian rights since the destruction of Gaza began.
The evening started with a powerful opening by comedian Guz Khan and actor Riz Ahmed, who described the event as a display of "local voices, but global solidarity." The event featured a series of performances and speeches from artists, speakers, and activists, all united in their support for Palestinian humanitarian organizations.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine, delivered a powerful speech at the event, urging the sports world to get involved. She condemned Israel's actions in Palestine, highlighted the humanitarian crisis, and emphasized resilience and the need for collective action.
Brit Award winner Paloma Faith performed a moving rendition of her new song, with comments expressing appreciation. Artist PinkPantheress emphasized the importance of using artistic platforms to support Palestine. Palestinian artist Saint Levant performed renditions of 'Wazira', 'Kalamantina' and 'Deira', while singer James Blake performed an emotional rendition of Frank Ocean's 'Godspeed'.
Neneh Cherry, Bastille's Dan Smith, Celeste, and Greentea Peng collaborated for a performance of '7 Seconds'. Palestinian artist Nai Barghouti's performance was highly praised. Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch and football legend Eric Cantona also took to the stage, urging their respective fields to act.
Yara Eid, a Palestinian journalist and human rights advocate, shared her personal story of survival and loss in Gaza. Louis Theroux shared his experiences in the West Bank, describing how he had seen Palestinians subjected to "slow grinding relentless violence." Actress Florence Pugh declared that "silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality, it is complicity."
The event raised just under £1.5 million, which will be donated via Choose Love to the Together for Palestine Fund. Artists, speakers, and activists encouraged attendees to support by making donations directly or by purchasing Together for Palestine merchandise, with all profits going to Palestinian humanitarian organizations.
Organiser Brian Eno delivered a powerful recitation of Oh Rascal Children of Gaza by the poet Khaled Juma, closing the event on a poignant note. The fundraiser aimed to raise millions for Palestinian-led organizations such as Taawon, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and the Palestine Medical Relief Society, and it seems that the evening was a significant step towards achieving that goal.
