Jewish singer Regina Spektor faced anti-Israel protesters during her concert in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. The incident occurred as the protesters yelled slogans like ‘Free Palestine,’ interrupting her performance. Spektor, who is a Jewish woman who came to the U.S. from the Soviet Union as a child, took the stage to address the crowd, stating, ‘You’re just yelling at a Jew.’ She then called on security to remove the protesters, who were later escorted out of the venue.
The disruption drew attention as Spektor, known for her activism, has previously expressed support for Israel but also criticized the government’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a recent Instagram post, she mourned the loss of both Israelis and Palestinians, stating, ‘My tears are endless but my heart has enough room… Room for murdered, raped, and kidnapped innocent Jews. Room for bombed innocent Palestinians suffering and dying in Gaza.’ She emphasized that the Israeli government is not representative of all Israelis or Jews globally.
During the concert, footage captured by a fan and shared on TikTok showed the protesters’ outburst, with some concertgoers responding by chanting ‘Am Yisrael Chai,’ meaning ‘The people of Israel live.’ Despite the interruption, many in the crowd expressed support for Spektor, applauding her actions and declaring, ‘We love you!’ The incident highlights the growing tensions and polarization in public spaces regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.