By Guy Page
Folk musician and political songwriter David Rovics says the Vermont–New Hampshire chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) withdrew support for a scheduled benefit concert this week, citing what the group called “an extensive history of making transphobic statements.”
The concert, planned as a fundraiser for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), had been organized with help from local JVP members. In a statement circulated on JVP’s public discussion list, the chapter’s steering committee said it “stands unequivocally with the Trans community” and recommended canceling the event after learning of concerns raised about Rovics’ past online commentary.
The committee linked to one of Rovics’ Substack essays and referenced “transphobia and defense of Nazis,” though the statement did not cite specific remarks. JVP apologized “to everyone harmed by our partnership with him” and urged anyone who chose not to attend the concert to donate to MECA directly. JVP wrote:
“We apologize to everyone harmed by our partnership with him. Now that we know about his transphobia, the steering committee no longer endorses the concert and recommends cancellation. If the concert happens, the steering committee would like an announcement stating the concert is not endorsed by JVP VT/NH to be read before the performance. We will not be the first to cancel one of his shows for this exact reason, so there is precedent for such action.’
Rovics protested the cancellation in a column on his Substack page, republished today in Vermont Daily Chronicle.
“To speak in the language that identitarians love to use, I am a victim of abusers. Cancellation campaigning, trolling, spreading false rumors and lies, these are all forms of bullying, which is a form of abuse,” Rovics writes. “They are also McCarthyite forms of abuse, intended to rob a person of both their reputations and their livelihoods.”
The concert cancellation was brought to VDC’s attention by Rovics’ friend Jamie Gage, who said that “as a multi-generational Vermonter and former liberal, I am aghast at the travesty of cancel culture run amok in our once great state – among many other issues.”
According to Rovics, the committee’s decision triggered additional pressure on the venue to cancel the show entirely. He said the venue ultimately agreed to proceed only if there would be “dialogue” between Rovics and his critics — a condition he rejected, saying he would not participate in a discussion arranged after what he described as an attempt to “cancel” the event.
Rovics, who is currently touring in the northeastern U.S., disputes all allegations of transphobia and says the accusations stem from his willingness to interview a wide range of political guests on his YouTube channel. He argues that his audiences have long included significant numbers of trans and Jewish listeners and says he has repeatedly spoken and written in support of both communities.
The musician likened the JVP steering committee’s actions to past efforts by other activist groups to pressure venues to drop his performances. He said he canceled the show himself once it became clear that the event would include what he called a “phony effort at dialogue.”
As of Saturday, the concert will not take place as originally planned.