Antisemitism Watch

Macklemore Controversy Fuels Debate Over Antisemitic Rhetoric and Tour Cancellations
Chicago Mayor Accused of Invoking Jewish Influence Tropes
European Parliament Faction Adopts IHRA Charter, Aligns with Israel

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You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

We begin with a high-profile dispute involving rapper Macklemore, billionaire Robert Kraft, and pop star Ed Sheeran. Macklemore recently performed at an Ed Sheeran concert and delivered a speech about Palestine, stating, "I say free Palestine." He also performed a song, "Hind's Hall," dedicated to a young girl killed in Gaza. Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and a prominent Jewish American philanthropist, confirmed he pressured Ed Sheeran to drop Macklemore from his US tour. Kraft stated his decision was based on what he described as Macklemore's "broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery." The campaign group StopAntisemitism criticized Macklemore's performance, stating that "Jewish fans bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran sing... not to be ambushed by..." Kraft defended his involvement, saying in a statement that his decision was not about diminishing Palestinian suffering but ensuring advocacy did not obscure Hamas's responsibility. Ed Sheeran himself denied being involved in Macklemore's removal, attributing it to the venue and promoter.

In Chicago, Jewish leaders have voiced concerns over rhetoric from Mayor Brandon Johnson. According to reporting reviewed for this program, these leaders state that Johnson's recent attack on Michael Sacks and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, invokes tropes about Jewish influence. This accusation highlights the sensitive nature of political discourse and its potential to echo long-standing antisemitic stereotypes.

On campus, students at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, returned from Rosh Hashanah celebrations to find mezuzot torn off and broken on their dorm room doors. The university condemned the incident in a statement, calling it an act of vandalism and stating it does not tolerate hate speech or harassment. They are treating the matter "very seriously" with their Special Constable Service leading the investigation. Advocacy groups responded swiftly. StandWithUs Canada and Hillel Ontario issued a joint statement, calling the act "despicable hate" and emphasizing that campuses must be safe spaces for Jewish students. B'nai Brith Canada commented on X that the incident illustrates how hate is becoming normalized on Canadian university campuses and highlighted the importance of stronger protections for religious property. In response to the vandalism, Jewish students and community leaders held a "mezuzah party" to re-install the broken items, with one family donating $3,600 for new mezuzot, leading to 43 student requests for installations. Rabbi Moshe Goldman noted this reflects a growing sense of Jewish culture and community on campus.

In U.S. politics, Representative Josh Riley's vote on the "Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act" has drawn criticism. According to an analysis reviewed for this program, the act requires universities to certify they will not engage in boycotts of "major strategic partners," which the article clarifies is defined as Israel. Riley called the bill a "non-discrimination bill at a time when antisemitism is rising on a lot of our campuses." However, critics argue that the bill fundamentally curtails free speech rights, including the right to boycott, and that Riley's vote legitimizes a "witch hunt" against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. The analysis notes Riley himself stated none of the schools in his district were in violation of the bill, yet he voted in favor, which critics contend is the "antithesis of the academic freedom and integrity that universities ought to stand for."

At Harvard University, a recent survey of faculty in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences reveals significant dissatisfaction with the actions of the former Trump administration. Ninety-five percent of responding faculty expressed dissatisfaction with Donald Trump's second term. The survey was conducted amid Harvard's ongoing dispute with the White House, which had previously attempted to pull federal funding and target international student enrollment over claims of insufficient response to antisemitism on campus. The article notes that faculty expressed frustration with changes appearing to be made under federal pressure, such as the closure of diversity offices and leadership changes at centers focusing on Israel and Palestine. A majority of respondents indicated that they felt the Trump administration's actions had discouraged them from expressing their political views and that the political right posed a greater threat to academic freedom.

Turning to institutional responses in Europe, dozens of members of the European Parliament from the Patriots for Europe faction are gathering for a conference where they will sign the IHRA charter. This action will formally align them with Israel, expressing opposition to recent EU sanctions against Judea and Samaria and commitment to combating rising antisemitism. The charter adoption signifies a commitment to IHRA principles, recognizing that attacks on Israel can be expressions of modern antisemitism and reaffirming the fight against Holocaust denial. Knesset Member Ariel Kellner, speaking ahead of the conference, stated that sanctions against Israel and Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria represent a "double standard" and "modern antisemitism," framing Israel as being on the front line against threats to Western civilization.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- thecjn.ca: https://thecjn.ca/news/wilfrid-laurier-university-students-find-mezuzot-broken-after-rosh-hashanah/
- cornellsun.com: https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/09/editorial-josh-riley-betrays-the-first-amendment
- telegraph.co.uk: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/09/15/macklemore-jewish-caricature-photos-resurface/
- thecrimson.com: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/9/16/fas-survey-trump/
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/09/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-aipac-jewish-democratic-donor/
- aljazeera.com: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/15/who-is-robert-kraft-pro-israel-billionaire-who-cancelled-macklemore
- jfeed.com: https://www.jfeed.com/antisemitism/tlg9zu