sWomen gathered on social media platform X on Wednesday to demand that Taylor Swift “speak out now” about Gaza, calling for her silence on the ongoing conflict.
The hashtag #SwiftiesForPalestine was trending on X, racking up nearly 80,000 posts as of Wednesday afternoon. The online appeal comes after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah killed at least 45 Palestinians over the weekend, sparking international outrage. Various celebrities including Ariana Grande It is Kehlani, have since shared statements of support for a ceasefire on social media. But Swift wasn’t one of them, which led fans to take to social media.
Under the hashtag, fans posted photos of themselves holding signs saying “We demand swift action!” and “Swifties For Palestine” outside the singer’s Eras Tour venues in Europe. Fans also circulated a letter on X, pressuring the singer to use her large platform to speak out in support of the Palestinian cause.
“As an artist of international renown and importance, your voice has the ability to impact and draw attention to crucial issues that affect millions of people around the world,” the letter said. “Today, I write to urge you to speak out against the current humanitarian crisis and the decades-long genocide in Palestine.”
“The international community, including many influential voices, has called for justice and peace, but the agony still continues,” the letter said. “His influence transcends borders and his words have the power to reach and activate a wide audience, including people who are unaware of the seriousness of the genocide. Speaking openly about the Palestinian genocide would not only be consistent with his history of advocating for victims, but could also encourage his millions of fans to learn and take action to help.”
“Your smallest action could make a significant difference in amplifying these calls to push for real change. Free Palestine.”
The post had received more than 955,000 views and 23,000 likes as of Wednesday afternoon.
Trending hashtag comes after online “Block” campaign, when social media users began blocking celebrities who had not spoken out about the war in Gaza.
See more information: Calls for celebrity boycott over silence on Gaza war spark debate over online activism
Some celebrities have used their platforms to share support for the Palestinian cause, including Jenna Ortega, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneasand Lizzo. On Tuesday, Dua Lipa shared an Artists4Ceasefire graphic with the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah on his Instagram Story, with the caption “Burning children alive can never be justified. The entire world is mobilizing to stop the Israeli genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza.”
Although Swift remained silent about politics early in her career, she has been vocal about politics in more recent years. In 2018, she publicly shared her political views for the first time, endorsing two Democratic candidates in Tennessee. She endorsed President Joe Biden for the 2020 election. She also spoke out in support abortion It is LGBTQ+ rights.
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