Ravers For Palestine launch strike fund for DJs and musicians amid boycotts

Ravers For Palestine have launched a strike fund to support DJs and musicians who’ve lost paid work due to participation in boycotts.

The GoFundMe solidarity strike fund has been set up to cover the fees of artists who have dropped out of events in support of initiatives including Strike Germany, and more recently, Austin for Palestine Coalition’s War Mongers out of SXSW. So far, £6,000 has been raised towards its £10,000 goal. 

The Strike Germany efforts, involving an open letter and events boycotting, have been ongoing since the introduction of a controversial “anti-discrimination clause” in state cultural grants (Berlin dropped the clause in January). More than 115 artists, musicians, and panelists pulled their scheduled appearances at the Austin, Texas business, tech, film and music festival SXSW earlier this month in solidarity with Palestine and to protest its military contractor sponsors.

“These artists have made a real sacrifice for Palestine”, the Ravers For Palestine team wrote on Instagram. “More than 10 have applied for support from our Strike Fund, which is urgently needed to pay rent and bills, and avoid falling into debt”. 

Ravers For Palestine – who published their own open letter in solidarity with Palestine in October – also previously called for a boycott of London club E1 club after its founder Yuval Hen was alleged to have travelled to Gaza to serve with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). The club since released a statement saying that Hen “stepped away” from his duties as director in October.

More than 500 artists signed the DJs Against Apartheid statement, a new campaign standing against Israel’s 75-year occupation of Palestine, organised by New York-based collective Palestine Forever. 

London label Human Endeavour recently released a new compilation to raise money for humanitarian Medical Aid for Palestinians and War Child UK. It features music by JD Twitch, Jurango, Ambien Baby and more.