By Simon Rocker
Copyright thejc
A music events promoter has cancelled the scheduled appearance of an Israeli DJ at an east London club next month after objections from a pro-Palestinian group. Roi Perez, who is queer, had been due to run a club night on October 7 staged by Origins, a group which promotes house and techno music events in London and Bath. But on Friday Origins announced on social media that it was pulling his set after reading a statement issued by a group called “Ravers for Palestine”. Origins said, “As a collective, we firmly and unequivocally support Palestinian liberation. We do not want to take any action that undermines that struggle or risks platforming voices in ways that contribute to the ongoing genocide and Israel’s settler-colonial project.” They explained that once concerns had been raised around Perez’s background, they had entered “into discussions with all parties” and “after much reflection… we decided to pull the show”. In an Instagram post headed “Making apartheid look like a party”, Ravers for Palestine described him as “an artist who has done more than almost anyone to normalise ‘Israel’ in underground rave culture’”. The group also directed readers to a longer statement on a Substack account called Green Abolition Room, which described Perez as having been born and raised in Ashkelon in “occupied Palestine”. The statement went on to say, “When Palestine is liberated, no one will be called ‘Israeli’.” Cancelled: DJ Roi Perez (photo: Roi Perez Instagram)[Missing Credit] Reacting to the cancellation, Israeli social media influencer Hen Mazzig wrote on Instagram: “In London, in 2025, events are being cancelled because of a DJ’s ethnicity or nationality. “DJ Roi Perez is being cancelled simply for being from Tel Aviv. It doesn’t matter that he raised money for Palestinians from his events. “It doesn’t matter what he thinks or does. He’s Israeli, and that alone is a crime. How terrifying is a world where clubs, politicians, even entire countries cave to the pressure of a loud minority?” The JC has approached Roi and Origins for comment via their Instagram accounts.
