A fundraising concert for Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris, titled Jazz for Kamala, was disrupted by protesters from Artists Against Apartheid, who condemned the event as a means of supporting Israeli military actions against Palestinians.
The concert, scheduled for 7 pm at Le Poisson Rouge, featured renowned jazz artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, and Robert Glasper, with tickets priced starting at $100. Proceeds from the event were intended to benefit the Harris Victory Fund.
Protesters expressed their outrage at what they labelled as a “genocide” funded by Harris’s support for Israel, claiming she has sent billions of dollars to assist in military operations resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians.
The group’s message, “No jazz while you support genocide!” echoed through the venue as they called for solidarity with the Palestinian people and other advocates for peace.
In a statement regarding the concert, publicist Lydia Liebman highlighted its role in promoting political engagement and fostering unity within the jazz community.
“Jazz for Kamala is the sixth in the series of election-cycle concerts produced by the Jazz for America’s Future team dating back to 2004. These historic occasions provide an opportunity for the jazz community to unite in promotion of our values and to encourage political engagement more generally,” she said.
Despite the disruption, the event aimed to bring together influential artists across generations to create music.
Even earlier this month, Kamala Harris defended the Biden administration’s security assistance to Israel
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Harris stated, “The aid that we have given Israel allowed Israel to defend itself against 200 ballistic missiles that were just meant to attack the people of Israel.”
“The work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles, which include the need for humanitarian aid, the need for this war to end, the need for a deal to be done which would release the hostages and create a ceasefire,” Harris explained.
Responding to a question about the closeness of the US relationship with Netanyahu, Harris shifted the focus, asserting the importance of the alliance between the American and Israeli peoples rather than the political leadership. “The answer to that question is yes,” she affirmed.
Harris has previously reiterated her unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, condemning Iranian actions as destabilising and expressing support for military assistance to Israel in the face of various threats.
