'Zionism=racism': Protest held outside Ed Sheeran's Philadelphia concert

Dozens of Palestinian supporters demonstrated outside Ed Sheeran concert in Philadelphia, denouncing promoters’s decision to drop US rapper Macklemore over his “Free Palestine” calls. Carrying Palestinian flags, and banners with messages that read “Gaza: Aid in, soldiers out” and “Zionism=racism=terrorism”, the protesters criticised Sheeran for continuing the tour. Adi Chattopadhyay, a spokesperson for the organisers of the protest, told Reuters that the demonstrators had gathered to call attention to Macklemore’s message and to talk “about the conditions on the ground in Gaza” and “the fact that the genocide is very much still ongoing”. The 35-year-old pop icon kicked off the stage by saying what is happening in Gaza is "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate". Sheeran had reportedly said that stadium owners refused to allow Macklemore to perform over his Palestine remarks. In solidarity with Macklemore, Sheeran’s opening acts and members of his band later quit the US tour. Pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrate outside of NRG Station prior to the Ed Sheeran Concert at Lincoln Financial Field on 19 September 2026 in Philadelphia. (AFP)