On Monday night, a group of influential New Yorkers gathered at the Gramercy Theatre for what was billed as a “night of music and peace.”
Avraham “Miko” Pered, who leads the Washington-based Palestinian Freedom House, was there to represent peace. The musical highlight? Rock legend Eric Clapton, who, despite being 80, still can play well enough to justify the hefty ticket price of $2,500 for this exclusive event.
“I am walking through the halls of Congress with people who do not respect human life!” said Omar, seemingly oblivious to the irony.
Inside, roughly 150 attendees, predominantly older white folks wearing kefiyehs, mingled as they eagerly bought Clapton’s concert tea and Pered’s autobiography, “The Son of the General.”
White room
When Pered took the stage, the crowd erupted with chants of “Miko! Miko! Miko!” — almost like a rehearsed greeting for a performer akin to Elmo on “Sesame Street,” but with more enthusiasm.
After some quick acknowledgments, Pered introduced the real star of the night. Clapton, a figure with a controversial past, once urged his fellow countrymen to keep the UK “white” and made other inflammatory comments about race.
Gracing the stage with a strange aura, Clapton delivered classic hits like “The White Room,” “Sunshine of Your Love,” and “Hoochie Coochie Man” with skill.
Blues has hammered
Blumenthal wasn’t the only notable figure there. Aaron Mate, a colleague from Grayzone, attended with his father, addiction expert Gabor Mate, to celebrate the global intifada.
During “Tears of Heaven,” a semi-known comedian and former mayoral candidate, perhaps a bit tipsy, excitedly shared anecdotes about his friendship with Roger Waters, whom he claimed was present.
“Blues, blues, blues, blues!” he later exclaimed, noting that Clapton and the others were the essence of the genre (his fourth mention), then lamented about the wealth gap and tax fairness.
Lukewarm water
To my surprise, dropping Waters’ name seemed effective when the Pink Floyd co-founder himself took the stage, clad in his signature black jeans and a casual shirt.
After a roaring applause, Waters made a few jokes regarding “this horrifying thing called Zionism,” but his passion seemed somewhat muted. He showcased a recent protest video on his iPhone, stating, “I am very proud of all the young people at every university. Zionism is over, and criticism of Israel’s policies isn’t anti-Semitic.”
In real life, Waters shifted focus to his upcoming single, “Under the Rubble.”
Related: Not Genocide: How Hamas changed lies to global rage
Ilhan Communication
As the band exited the stage, the audience chanted “Free, Free Palestine” among other slogans.
Instead of a traditional encore for “Wish You Were Here,” the night concluded with a slightly unexpected twist: Ilhan Omar, wrapped in her signature scarf, came on stage to claim a miniature wrestling championship belt from the organizers.
“I am walking through the halls of Congress with people who do not respect human life!” Omar remarked, not quite grasping the irony of her statement, especially considering the ongoing celebrations surrounding politically charged events. She held up her belt and left the stage to applause.
The night wrapped up, with Clapton grinning and saying, “Don’t cancel me again.” Energized by the experience and perhaps a bit inebriated, the crowd raised their fists as they exited into the night.
