The London Roundhouse has issued an apology for hosting a Primal Scream concert that included a graphic entwining a Star of David with a swastika, The Guardian reports. During its performance of “Swastika Eyes,” the band displayed a short film that combines footage of the devastation of Gaza with pictures of political figures—including the U.S. and Israeli presidents, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu—with their eyes replaced by animations of the entwined symbols. The Roundhouse said it did not know the film would be shown and was “appalled that antisemitic imagery was displayed.”
Primal Scream said on Instagram today that “the film is a piece of art” that is “meant to provoke debate, not hate.” The Scottish group added that the film “clearly draws from history to question where the actions of current world governments sit in that context,” concluding, “In a free, pluralistic and liberal society freedom of expression is a right which we choose to exercise.” The film in question concludes with the words, “Our government is complicit in genocide.”
The Community Security Trust, a charity representing Jewish people in Britain, released a statement saying it had reported the band to the police, The Guardian notes. “Entwining a Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks encouraging hatred of Jews,” the charity said.
