American singer Zach Bryan during his concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts wearing a T-shirt with the words "Palestine Free" (social media)
Afrasianet - U.S. singer Zach Bryan's appearance on the stage at Gillette Stadium in a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Free Palestine " was not just a fleeting moment at a concert, as the scene received coverage from the conservative Fox News network, bringing the Palestinian message back to the forefront of a high-profile art event in the United States.
Bryan, a country music star, took to the stage at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro last Friday wearing a T-shirt with the words "Freedom for Palestine" at the stadium owned by billionaire Robert Kraft, who had previously announced his refusal to participate in performances held at the stadium.
Fox News' coverage of the scene reopened the debate on social media platforms, especially since the network is one of the most prominent American media outlets with a conservative orientation, while followers focused on the paradox between the nature of the media network and the message that the artist carried on stage.
Bryan's appearance came weeks after Maclemore was ruled out of performances at Gillette Stadium, following his pro-Palestinian remarks during singer Ed Sheeran's tour.
Macklemore had chanted the phrase "Freedom for Palestine" during a concert at MetLife Stadium, before Sheeran announced that the decision to exclude him was made by the organizers and venues of the concerts, not by him personally.
Fox News coverage ignites interaction
Fox News' publication of the scene sparked a wide interaction between followers and activists, some of whom focused on the significance of the network reporting the appearance of an artist in a T-shirt with a pro-Palestinian slogan.
One follower sarcastically wrote: "Glory be to the changer of circumstances, the conservative right-wing Fox News account has become covering the news of wearing a blouse with free Palestine on it."
Others saw Bryan's appearance and coverage as a remarkable development in the way Palestine-related messages reached the American public, while others considered the artist to have taken a calculated professional step.
Tributes to Brian
A number of bloggers praised Bryan's stance, with one saying he would listen to some of his songs, adding that what he did was "beautiful" and that "America stands with Palestine."
Another follower said, "Thank you, Zach Bryan, for standing up for the American values of the First Amendment, and for standing up for international law and human rights."
Artists also reacted to the scene, with rapper Chuck Dee writing a comment saying the concert was "not organized by Ed Sheeran's agents," adding pro-Palestinian and Haitian phrases.
One commentator went on to say that "the game is over for Israel," while another wrote on the Fox News post: "You are the only ones left to support Israel; you and the rest of the mainstream media."
While Zach Bryan's appearance in a "Free Palestine" shirt continued to attract attention on and off the court, the arrival of the scene on Fox News added another dimension to the story, in light of the ongoing debate in the United States about the presence of the Palestinian cause in the cultural and media scene, especially after the controversy that accompanied Macklemore's recent positions.
________________
Source: Social Media
