Protestor Storms Stage with Israeli Flag at Roger Waters Concert

A protester disrupted Roger Waters‘ concert in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday by storming the stage with the Israeli flag, in response to his ongoing tour, which some have labeled as anti-Semitic.

Waters has long faced criticism for his disapproval of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, but he recently faced heightened backlash for wearing an outfit resembling that of a Nazi soldier. The attire was part of a segment intended to reference Bob Geldof’s character, Pink, from ‘The Wall,’ while the backdrop displayed the names of individuals the artist believes were victims of state-sanctioned violence. Waters has maintained that the costume was intended to condemn fascism, but German authorities did not interpret it that way. Consequently, he is reportedly being investigated for ‘suspected incitement’ following the incident.

At the Roger Waters concert in Frankfurt, a brave man with an Israeli flag rushes the stage in protest of Waters’ disgusting antisemitism! ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/ANvKLTAWXM

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) May 29, 2023

During the Frankfurt concert, Waters addressed his decision to wear Nazi attire as well as adress protester who stormed the stage. Emphasizing that his stage show was not meant to glorify Nazism, as he himself grew up in the aftermath of World War II, he stated that he would not wear the costume at the Frankfurt show. He said, ‘I am aware of the events of December 8th, 9th, 10th, 1938. I have known about it all my life. It is part of something that I have always been conscious of. I belong to that generation—we are aware of these events. So, I sympathize with those who are concerned about desecrating this place.’

Continuing his remarks, Waters stated, ‘That is why I am making this small, but I hope significant, gesture tonight. So when the second half begins, and the banners do not come down, and I am not wearing the leather coat, that is the reason. It is to demonstrate that I cannot possibly comprehend the emotions felt by the relatives of those men or what it was like in 1938—Frankfurt, and throughout Germany.’

A POWERFUL NIGHT IN FRANKFURT. THANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/bbPvFnsmsv

— Roger Waters ✊ (@rogerwaters) May 29, 2023

The artist’s political beliefs are so divisive that the city of Frankfurt attempted to halt his concert in the area. Frankfurt’s city council referred to Waters as ‘one of the world’s most well-known anti-Semites’ in a statement and sought to cancel his performance at Festhalle, a venue that was formerly a Jewish detention camp. However, the concert proceeded as planned after Waters took legal action against the city council.”