STATE

Macklemore's new song 'Hind's Hall' supports pro-Palestinian college campus protesters

Alexis Simmerman Brendan Morrow Skye Seipp
Austin American-Statesman

Macklemore is speaking his mind in a new pro-Palestinian track.

The rapper, 40, on Monday shared a new song on social media, in which he passionately expresses support for the pro-Palestinian protests that have been occurring on college campus in the United States. The song is titled "Hind's Hall," a reference to the fact that protesters at Columbia University renamed Hamilton Hall as Hind's Hall in a tribute to a 6-year-old reportedly killed by Israeli forces.

"The people, they won't leave," Macklemore raps on the song as the video shows footage from protests. "What is threatening about divesting and wanting peace? The problem isn't the protests, it's what they're protesting. It goes against what our country is funding."

April 18, 2023: US rapper and singer Benjamin Hammond Haggerty aka Macklemore performs on stage at the Zenith de la Villette in Paris.

YouTube has put a content warning on the "Hind's Hall" music video, stating, "The following content may contain graphic or violent imagery."

UT students arrested during protests

In the track, Macklemore slams "lies" that "it's antisemitic to be antizionist" before accusing Israel of genocide, rapping, "If students in tents posted on the lawn occupying the quad is really against the law and a reason to call in the police and their squad, where does genocide land in your definition, huh?"

Just last week, students at the University of Texas joined in nationwide protests on college campuses, demanding divestment from Israel.

More on UT protests:What is an encampment protest? Students at UT-Austin join college protests nationwide

On April 24, 57 people were arrested on criminal trespassing charges in connection to the UT protests. All of these were dropped when the Travis County attorney's office said they lacked probable cause.

An additional 79 individuals were arrested April 29, when dozens set up a surprise encampment on the campus's South Mall.

A protester is taken away by Austin police officers at the University of Texas at Austin on Monday, April 29, 2024. Protesters created an encampment on the UT Tower south lawn meant to call attention to the war in Gaza and to condemn the University of Texas at Austin’s relationship with defense companies. Protesters were given notices to vacate and were then removed by Austin Police, University police, and Texas State Troopers.

Macklemore calls out Biden for response to campus protests

More than 30,000 people have reportedly died in Gaza after Israel bombarded the region in response to a deadly Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.

In remarks about the campus unrest delivered at the White House last week, President Joe Biden said that peaceful protests are "in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues" before adding, "Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It's against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelation of classes and graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest."

In "Hind's Hall," Macklemore directly calls out Biden and declares that he won't be voting for him in the 2024 presidential election. "The blood is on your hands, Biden," he raps. "We can see it all, and (expletive) no, I'm not voting for you in the fall."

On Instagram, Macklemore said that when his song is uploaded to streaming services, proceeds will benefit UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.