The Palestinian struggle is one of the most human struggles of our time, the Puerto Rican singer stressed.

On Sunday, Puerto Rican singer Rene Perez Joglar, known as Residente, once again brought attention to the Palestinian cause on the international stage. “Palestine to overcome!” he shouted alongside thousands of attendees at the Pirata Festival in Gandia, Valencia, held from July 9 to 12

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“The Palestinian struggle is one of the most human struggles of our time. Please, let’s stop comparing our misfortunes with what Palestine is experiencing. I know Latin America is suffering, but what’s happening in Palestine is something else: thousands of families are being gunned down before our eyes,” Residente wrote on Instagram.

“I also know that some of my fellow artists are afraid to speak out for fear of losing sponsorship and followers, or being attacked on social media. But none of that is more important than a human life. Let’s defend life,” he added.

“Every complaint, every post, every mention about what’s happening in Gaza exerts pressure. Thank you, Valencia! Thank you for always maintaining that fighting spirit necessary to build a better world. Palestine will overcome!”

Residente’s performance became a vibrant moment of cultural resistance and political expression in Europe. The crowd erupted in applause at the end of a show marked by Palestinian flags waving among the audience—an act the artist himself described as the largest display of solidarity with Palestine he had ever witnessed at a concert. Images from the event quickly circulated on social media, generating significant attention across alternative media outlets and pro-Palestinian advocacy accounts.

Earlier, Residente had canceled his appearances at the Morriña Festival and the International Festival of Benicàssim (FIB), citing their financial backing by investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), which has business ties with tech companies that supply surveillance systems and weapons to the Israeli military. It also supports real estate projects in Palestinian territories illegally occupied by Israel.

For Residente, performing at events sponsored by investors contributing to the Israeli occupation would mean “being part, even in the smallest way, of the genocide and the systematic violation of human rights in Gaza.”

With this stance, the Puerto Rican musician reaffirmed his commitment to social causes and his outspoken rejection of the genocide of the Palestinian people.

Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, which escalated in October 2023, has killed tens of thousands—mostly civilians—and drawn international condemnation for war crimes.

Human rights organizations, United Nations special rapporteurs, and various governments have denounced Israel’s use of disproportionate force and the humanitarian blockade imposed on the Palestinian population. In this context, artists like Residente play a key role in raising awareness of the conflict from popular platforms.

His decision to withdraw from festivals financed by pro-Israeli interests aligns with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to pressure Israel to comply with international law and end the occupation.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Resident –

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