Billy Joel stands up to Charlottesville white supremacists at concert

Publish Date
Thursday, 24 August 2017, 8:55AM
Photo / Getty

Photo / Getty

Billy Joel sent a strong message to both President Donald Trump and the country's white supremacists at his New York City concert on Monday night.

The 68-year-old singer, whose father and paternal grandparents fled Germany to escape the Nazis in the '30s, added a symbol of particularly timely significance to his outfit while performing at Madison Square Garden.

On the front and back of his jacket, he donned two yellow felt Star of David patches, much like the ones Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-conquered countries during World War II and the Holocaust.

Yellow badges were first introduced as a way to identify Jews in Europe in late 1938. When Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939, they became mandatory there, and they soon were required in all of the countries acquired by the Nazis.

On Monday, Joel took the stage at the Garden — his 44th monthly show since he began his residency there in 2014 — wearing similar yellow felt stars on his jacket.

The patches seemed to serve as a reminder of what happens when Nazis, racists, and white supremacists gain control.

It was a particularly strong message to send so soon after the dueling protests in Charlottesville, where white supremacists marched with Nazi regalia and swastikas.

After the clash — which left anti-Nazi protester Heather Heyer dead — Trump came forward to offer words that many found to be lacking in proper condemnation for the Nazis and white supremacists.

'I think there is blame on both sides,' he said. 'You had a group on one side that was bad and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. Nobody wants to say it, but I will say it right now.'

Also in the concert, Joel welcomed singer Patty Smyth on stage to sing her song Goodbye To You — while cheekily paying homage to those who've already been axed from the White House, including Steve Bannon the Anthony Scaramucci.

The fact that Joel shared his opinion is a surprise, as he spoke earlier this year about keeping his political opinions to himself.

'I try to stay out of politics. I am a private citizen and I have a right to believe in my own political point of view, but I try not to get up on a soapbox and tell people how to think,' he told Rolling Stone this year.

And his family agrees with him. Joel's most recent ex-wife, Katie Lee, wrote on Instagram: 'Truly in awe of my former husband @billyjoel wearing the yellow Star of David at his concert at MSG last night. He is an incredible man and what a way to take a stand. He continues to inspire me and I hope he does to each and every one of you. #solidarity' 

Source: Daily Mail.

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you