County Legislator: Roger Waters Not Welcome Here

A Nassau County legislator is calling on the Nassau Coliseum to cancel an upcoming concert by Roger Waters because of his involvement with an anti-Israeli movement.

Legis. Howard Kopel, a Republican from Lawrence, is leading the charge. According to News 12, Kopel says that Waters' involvement with the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) should prohibit him from performing at the coliseum.

The BDS movement specifically targets Israeli products and services. Earlier this year, Nassau County passed a law prohibiting the county from doing business with people or businesses involved in the BDS movement. Since the county owns the coliseum, opponents of Waters argue he shouldn't be allowed to perform.

"He maintains that he is not anti-Semitic, yet one of his primary images is an inflatable pig that floats above his concerts emblazoned with the Star of David," Kopel told News 12.

According to Newsday, the Nassau County attorney will take legal action against Nassau Events Center, the operator of the coliseum, if the performance is not canceled. In 2013, the Anti-Defamation League wrote an open letter to Waters criticizing his support of the BDS movement and saying his views on Israel "...are in fact colored by offensive and dangerous undercurrents of anti-Jewish sentiment."

Waters, who is one of the founding members of the band Pink Floyd, is currently scheduled to perform at the coliseum on Sept. 15 and 16.

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