US Singer John Legend Defends Human Rights of Palestinians

John Legend, a singer, songwriter, record producer, activist, and actor from the United States, spoke up for the rights of the Palestinians Saturday.

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During an interview on the “Real Time With Bill Maher” show on HBO, Legend defended Ilhan Omar and spoke up for Palestinians.

Ilhan Omar was wrongfully criticized Sunday as an anti-Semite after she criticized Israel’s monetary influence in U.S. politics for which she was made to apologize.

Her speaking up against pro-Israeli lobby’s influence broke a silence around the issue which has been maintained by mainstream politicians of both Democratic and Republican parties.

“As progressives, we should always speak up for human rights of Palestinians, and for too long,” Legend said. “I think it has been out of balance for progressives to talk about rights of Palestinians.”

Legend also spoke up for the occupied population during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. He criticized former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s attempts at brokering a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestine.

He also gave a speech at the University of Pennsylvania in the same year where he urged the graduating students to humanize Palestinians which means seeing a young Palestinian kid not as a future security threat or demographic challenge, but as a future father, mother and lover.”