Stevie Wonder Cancels Scheduled Los Angeles Performance for Israeli Army Benefit
The battlegrounds of Palestinian civil society's call for a cultural boycott of Israel usually play out in Tel Aviv or in the music venues of other cities, but this week a prominent cancellation was gained much closer to home. The legendary Stevie Wonder was all set to perform for an annual Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FDIF) gala on December 6 in Los Angeles when pressure started mounting from activist groups.
As word got out, the Grammy award amassing musician became the focus of efforts by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel to drop the date. The FDIF issued a press release just yesterday confirming that Wonder, indeed, will no longer be appearing at the event.
Although no official word was given by the musician himself, the FIDF said that Wonder's representatives cited a "recommendation from the United Nations to withdraw his participation" given his involvement with the organization. Wonder was named a UN Messenger of Peace three years ago.
"We regret the fact that Stevie Wonder has decided to cancel his performance at an important community event of the FIDF," Yitzhak Gershon, the organization's National Director and CEO, is quoted as saying. He then goes on to describe FIDF as a "non-political organization" that provides "humanitarian support." David Foster & Friends are still slated to appear with Jason Alexander of "Sienfeld" fame as emcee for the evening.
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http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2012/11/stevie_wonder_cancels_los_ange.php
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