The Fall of Fusion Festival: A Follow-up Response
Our Boycott Call Remains
Dear Fusion Festival Organizers,
We, Palestinian artists and our allies, have read the latest Fusion Festival newsletter dated 05/20/2024. While it attempts to address some of our concerns, let us be unequivocally clear: Fusion’s position remains fundamentally flawed and deeply problematic. Here’s why:
Minimization and Misrepresentation:
By avoiding terms like “genocide” and “apartheid” to appease sensitivities, Fusion minimizes Palestinian suffering. This deliberate reluctance to acknowledge harsh realities perpetuates systemic oppression and violence against Palestinians. Claiming that these terms were avoided due to German sensitivities is no excuse for failing to confront and name the injustices head-on.
Tokenism and Superficial Gestures:
The plans to sensitize security teams and raise awareness are mere token gestures aimed at appeasing critics without addressing the systemic racism and discrimination entrenched in Fusion’s policies. Although Fusion claims to have always supported Palestinian artists, testimonies from our community and online tell a starkly different story. Tokenizing individuals from our community to justify Fusion’s position raises serious doubts about its sincerity. The stated solidarity with Gaza protesters is hollow without explicitly condemning the Israeli occupation and systemic violence. The personal is political. Meaningful change within Fusion’s policies and actions requires a deep self-examination and commitment to genuine transformation.
The Political Nature of Fusion:
Fusion Festival is inherently political. Asking participants to leave politics at the door is hypocritical and undermines the festival’s claimed values. Avoiding political discussions disconnects Fusion from genuine liberation movements and the global demand for justice. Notably, Fusion has demonstrated political stances by canceling Russian artists and centering Ukraine in recent years.
Privilege and Escapism:
Describing Fusion as a place for recharging and escapism reflects a privileged perspective. Palestinian artists and activists do not seek escapism; they seek meaningful engagement and transformative change. This stance undermines the necessity of addressing critical issues directly. As a leftist festival hosting over 80,000 people, Fusion has a responsibility to convey meaningful messages and take impactful actions. We are no longer accepting the things we cannot change; we are changing the things we cannot accept. This is a necessary political stance.
False Equivalence and Misdirected Solidarity:
Equating the global Jewish experience with the specific oppression faced by Palestinians dilutes the unique nature of Palestinian suffering. Failing to distinguish between Israelis and Jewish people worldwide obscures the Israeli state’s role in these injustices and disregards the many anti-Zionist Jewish allies who stand with us.
Western Imperialism:
Ignoring the broader context of Western imperialism, including Germany’s complicity, reflects a narrow understanding of the complexities of the Palestinian struggle for liberation. Fusion’s stance, seen as an extension of these oppressions and mirroring the narrative of German fascist media, infuriates Palestinians and their allies. The stark contrast in support for events like the Nova Festival underscores this hypocrisy.
Fusion’s Zionism Problem:
Kulturkosmos attempts to balance support for liberation with support for a colonial project, a deeply flawed approach. Over 75% of Israelis serve in the military that controls Palestinian ghettos in the West Bank and commits genocide in Gaza. Deconstructing support for the Zionist project should be central to the mission of an anti-national festival, especially within the Fusion team. To ensure real safety, Fusion should reconsider allowing serving soldiers and supporters of this genocidal army.
Music is Political:
The dance floor is inherently political. Electronic music should not be co-opted by liberal escapism that supports entities like Israel. Rave culture was created by marginalized communities fighting for liberation, not for selective solidarity or false balances—something that once distinguished Fusion Festival from other commercial festivals, but clearly not anymore.
Amplifying Our Call
Due to all the aforementioned reasons, we amplify our urgent call to boycott. We demand that Fusion Festival commit to a comprehensive and transformative rehabilitation, embracing concrete actions, educational efforts, and reclaiming the values it once stood for. Collaborate authentically with communities and their representatives instead of tokenizing individuals.
We challenge Fusion to engage with diverse perspectives, including those deemed “too radical,” to form a more profound understanding. The struggle against imperialism and racism, and for true equality and justice, must be central to any cultural festival claiming to stand for peace and unity.
Sincerely,
Palestinian Artists and Allies