Dear Sam Smith,

We’re writing to you now as concerned fans who have been rooting for you and all of the beautiful queer and trans joy, abundance, and freedom dreaming you’ve offered through your music and visionary videos.

But we were disappointed to learn that you are headlining the Summer in the City festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, and we are urging you to reconsider this decision. By playing in Israel, you risk condoning the violence and oppression the Israeli government commits against Palestinians – including queer Palestinians – every day.

As an inspiration for queer liberation everywhere, we know this isn’t in line with your values.

As you may be aware, the Palestinian people have been subjected to decades of military occupation, displacement, and discrimination at the hands of the Israeli government. The ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine, including the blockade of Gaza and the unequal laws for Palestinian citizens of Israel, has resulted in the denial of basic freedoms for millions of people. The situation has been recognized as apartheid for decades by Palestinians and more recently by numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Many artists and musicians, including Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Lauryn Hill, and most recently Big Thief (a band that includes the child of a well known Israeli musician), have decided to respect the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel. 

The broader Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement has asked artists around the world to respect this picket line until Palestinians have full equality, freedom and justice.  

Israel's government often claims to be a safe and welcoming place for the LGBT community. However, this claim is inconsistent with the reality of the regime’s discriminatory policies towards Palestinians, including those who identify as LGBT (And yes, we do exist and are here in Palestine!). Palestinians are subjected to numerous forms of violence and oppression, such as forced displacement, restricted movement, and unequal access to basic resources.

Playing Tel Aviv and crossing this picket line is not in line with a tour promoting love and freedom. 

We urge you to reconsider your decision and cancel your performance in Israel. Please stand in solidarity with Palestinian queers and all Palestinians fighting for their human rights and dignity.

Sincerely,

Your fans & Adalah Justice Project

Adalah Justice Project is a Palestinian-led advocacy organization based in the U.S. that builds cross-movement coalitions to achieve collective liberation - connecting Indigenous, Black, and Palestinian freedom struggles. We believe that drawing the linkages between US policy abroad and repressive state practices at home is crucial to shifting the balance of power.

#SamDontGo Graphic by Rafael Shimunov