Kanye West Tampa Concert Protested By Tampa Jewish Federation, Florida NOW
Opposition to Ye's upcoming concerts in Tampa continues to grow.The Tampa Jewish Federation, the Florida Holocaust Museum, and the Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women have all spoken out in statements against the artist formerly known as Kanye West ahead of his scheduled June 26 and June 28 performances at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.The criticism comes days after Florida Sen. Rick Scott urged the Tampa Sports Authority to reconsider hosting the rapper, citing Ye's long history of antisemitic remarks and controversial public statements."Kanye West's consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the people of the Hillsborough community," Scott wrote in a letter to the authority's board of directors. "He has openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world."Scott also questioned whether a publicly owned venue supported in part by taxpayer dollars should host the artist, adding, "No taxpayer dollars should be used to give a vocal antisemite a stage in Florida."The Tampa Sports Authority has so far declined to cancel the concerts."We recognize the concerns and viewpoints being expressed about the upcoming events at Raymond James Stadium," the authority said in a statement. "As a public agency, we follow the principles of free speech in operating our venue, although we do not condone remarks or actions from any artists that are offensive and divisive."For many in Tampa's Jewish community, Ye's public apology earlier this year has done little to ease concerns. The Florida Holocaust Museum announced it will offer free admission from June 26 through June 28, encouraging residents to learn more about the Holocaust while Ye is in town.Museum president Eric Stillman questioned the sincerity of the rapper's apology, which blamed his past behavior on bipolar disorder and a frontal lobe injury."To say he was sorry and to say it was based on a manic episode and not to take any actions after that, to demonstrate that this was a sincere change of heart, is really what is so hard for the members of the Jewish community in Tampa, and throughout the region and throughout the world to take that as sincere," Stillman said.The museum also warned that hosting the artist sends a message that "anti-Jewish bigotry can be accepted or overlooked for the sake of something as simple as a concert."Florida NOW Vice President Debbie Deland argued that Ye's rhetoric goes beyond protected speech and that continuing to give him a platform "normalizes and glorifies" hateful ideas."It's been a consistent pattern of hate speech and Nazism," Deland said. "You don't just turn that over."Ye remains scheduled to perform both shows in Tampa, the only remaining stop on the North American leg of his tour. The concerts follow sold-out performances earlier this year in Los Angeles as the rapper continues promoting his latest album, Bully.
