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PiL: Protest planned before Leeds show
A campaign group is planning to picket an upcoming Leeds gig by former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon.
The Leeds Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is urging the once controversial rocker 'Don't Be Rotten' and to cancel a planned gig in Israel next month.
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The group wants the star to join other musicians and performers in boycotting what it calls the "apartheid" Israeli state in protest at its policies in the disputed Palestinian territories,
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Mr Lydon – aka Johnny Rotten – and his band Public Image Limited are embarking on a European Tour and is due to play at the Heineken Festival in tel Aviv at the end of August.
Pro Palestine protesters throughout the UK are set to gather outside his concerts, including his upcoming gig at Leeds' O2 Academy tomorrow night.
A spokesperson for Leeds PSC said: "Come on Johnny, don't make a rotten
decision, don't play Israel. You've got a great record on anti-racism so why are you planning to support an apartheid state now?
"Cancel your Tel Aviv gig and heed the Palestinian call for boycott". A Facebook page urging the punk rocker to cancel the controversial gig has already attracted hundreds of members.
Lydon said in a recent interview: "All I've ever done is to try to do the world a bit of good... to live my life with wisdom."
The action by Leeds PSC forms part of a growing international campaign urging artists to not perform in Israel while it continues with its current policies with regards to Palestinians.
Artists who have already cancelled performances in Israel include Carlos Santana, The Pixies, The Klaxons, The Gorillaz and Elvis Costello.
Hollywood stars Dustin Hoffman and Meg Ryan also boycotted the recent Israeli film festival.
Lydon has already hit back at the campaign, saying in one recent interview: "Of course there's all kind of politics going on down there.
"But there is just about all over the world.
"You cannot separate yourself from your audience because of political powers that be."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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