Roger Waters: “Do note vote for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump – they both support murdering children”

Roger Waters recently took to social media to urge people not to vote for either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. He voiced his opinion that both candidates support actions in the Israel-Palestine conflict that result in the harm of innocent children, labeling both as equally problematic. Waters recommended voters consider independent candidates like Dr. Jill Stein, Butch Ware, Cornel West, Melina Abdullah, or Socialist Equality candidates Joseph Kishore and Jerry White instead.

The conflict, which escalated significantly in October 2023 following a Hamas attack that killed over a thousand Israelis, has resulted in an intense Israeli response in Gaza. The ongoing violence has led to a high death toll, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 41,500 Palestinian casualties from Israeli air and ground strikes. Waters’ remarks reflect his continued criticism of both major U.S. political parties’ stances on the conflict, which he believes fail to address the humanitarian crisis effectively.

 

Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, has expressed her support for Israel’s right to defend itself but has also recognized Palestinian suffering, calling for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. While she advocates for a two-state solution to ensure security for both Israelis and Palestinians, she has not outlined specific policies for achieving this. Harris has opposed a proposed arms embargo on Israel, supporting President Biden’s selective approach to withholding certain arms when concerns arise.

 

In contrast, former President Donald Trump has presented himself as a strong ally of Israel, though he has been critical of its government’s handling of the war. During his presidency, Trump made controversial decisions, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and reversing U.S. opposition to Israeli settlements, only for these to be later reversed by the Biden administration. When asked recently about a possible independent Palestinian state, Trump was non-committal, indicating he would need more information before deciding.

 

Roger Waters has been a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel since 2011, a position that has led to clashes with other artists, including Nick Cave, who views Waters’ stance as damaging. Waters argues that supporting Israel’s cultural industry without criticism effectively legitimizes what he describes as Israel’s occupation and apartheid-like policies. His unwavering support for BDS highlights his broader commitment to drawing attention to Palestinian rights.

This stance has also caused friction with Waters’ former Pink Floyd bandmate, David Gilmour, who accused him of antisemitism, a claim echoed by Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, earlier this year. Waters denied these accusations, calling them inaccurate and defamatory. This exchange followed Waters’ controversial interview with a German newspaper, where he compared Israeli policies to those of Nazi Germany and criticized global colonial histories, drawing further attention to his political beliefs and advocacy.