Archbishop Desmond Tutu endorses “Freedom for Palestine” song

Archibishop Desmond Tutu, South African human rights leader and advocate of the global boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, officially endorsed the new song “Freedom for Palestine” as the track continues to gain global popularity.

As The Electronic Intifada recently reported, “Freedom for Palestine” hit the internet late last month and was instantly lauded by internationally-renowned musicians and artists, such as Coldplay and Billy Bragg. Since its release, the track has been viewed more than 254,000 times on YouTube. The song was produced by the OneWorld musicians collective

Archbishop Tutu says in OneWorld’s YouTube video:

I visited the occupied Palestinian territories, and have witnessed the humiliation of Palestinians at Israeli military checkpoints. The inhumanity that won’t let ambulances reach the injured, farmers tend their land, or children attend schools. This treatment is familiar to me as it was to many Black South Africans who were corralled and harassed by the security forces of the apartheid government. It is not with rancor that we criticize the Israeli government, but with hope — hope that a better future can be made for both Israelis and Palestinians. Hope for a future where one people need not rule over another, engendering suffering, humiliation, and retaliation … True peace comes only with justice.

Tutu explains that it was the international boycott movement that led to the end of apartheid in South Africa, and that the movement was supported by artists and musicians who today lend their talents to the current boycott movement against Israel’s apartheid policies. 

In South Africa, we could not have achieved our freedom without the help of people around the world, and musicians who are central to our struggle. Through music and art, we speak to a common humanity — one which transcends political and economic interests. For this, I am proud to support Freedom for Palestine by OneWorld … Let’s send a message to governments that a critical mass of people want to see an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the oppression of its people.

He concludes:

By acting together, we can break cycles of injustice, end the occupation, and build a new world based on our common humanity and justice.

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good on you for quoting from Tutu, am writing it up for Green Left Weekly an australian newspaper- I want to use the song locally in newcastle for a bds action, to help spread it here's lyrics rap n chords (Randall sent me lyrics)
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Freedom for Palestine (Oneworld- inc Dave Randall, Lowkey- rap; 2011)

Note:- IN the verses, its more F#m to F#m/A rather than F#m to A; also not sure of chords in the “we’ll break down the wall…”; and see note below about variations towards the end

F#m A
1. So many years of catastrophe
F#m
More than 6 million refugees
A
It could be you and your family
Forced from your home and your history
Am
We are the people
And this is our time
E
Stand up
Sing out
For Palestine

2. No matter your faith or community
This is a crime against humanity
Gaza turned into a prison camp
Apartheid wall divide the West Bank

Chorus:
We are the people
And this is our time
Stand up
Sing out
For Palestine
A
We'll break down the wall
D E A
Freedom for Palestine
A
Demand justice for all
D E A
Freedom for Palestine

3. Enough illegal occupation
Violence and racial segregation
All Earth’s communities unite
Freedom is a human right
Chorus

[F#m to A as per verse… sort of!]
Rap:You're dead, locked by doctrine, blocked like a box you're locked in, a classroom bombs are dropped in, and the pain is locked in, shame on this brave new world you're lost in, and the lives it's costin', like a toxin, a penetration of hate, generations later still boxed in, children dead cos we're led by the bigoted, small graves filled instead and i'm sick of it.
We are the people
And this is our time
Stand up
Sing out
For Palestine
B
We'll break down the wall
E F# B
Freedom for Palestine
Demand justice for all
Freedom for Palestine [several repeats, some variations as well]

Slower, solo: We are the people,
This is our time,
Unite together
For justice in Palestine

Nora Barrows-Friedman

Nora Barrows-Friedman's picture

Nora Barrows-Friedman is a staff writer and associate editor at The Electronic Intifada, and is the author of In Our Power: US Students Organize for Justice in Palestine (Just World Books, 2014).