Just hours after a devastating terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on Sunday (Dec. 14th), Garbage took the stage for a scheduled concert at the Sydney Opera House. The tragic incident – described by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “an evil act of anti-Semitism” – saw two gunmen open fire during a Hanukkah celebration attended by more than 1000 people, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens of others.
During their show, Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson took a moment to address the attack.
“This has become an astoundingly frightening, violent, hateful, intolerant world, and I think the only thing we can do really, as people who do not believe in all this separation and all this intolerance, all we can really do is really try and profess our love for one another,” she said as the crowd cheered.
“We have been a band that have always believed that we are one people under one sun,” Manson added. “It doesn’t matter what God your worship, what color of your skin, what your gender is, what your sexual orientation is, what food you like to eat, what clothes you like to wear, how you like to hang your junk, whether you like to wear a bra or not wear a bra. You get my point, it’s all so f*cking stupid, we have people in power telling us to really hate one another, to destroy one another.”
When someone from the crowd shouted “Free Palestine,” Manson responded: “Of course. Free f*cking Palestine too. Everybody deserves to live a life of love and have their children be safe. And so I’m sorry to bring things down, but I really thought it was important to mention what happened today.”
In addition to Manson’s onstage remarks, Garbage reshared a statement written by Nada Abu Alrub on Instagram. The band also revealed in a statement of their own that six close family members had been at Bondi Beach shortly before the shooting.
“What kind of world we’re living in right now? Innocent people were targeted while celebrating life and faith. This should never happen to anyone, anywhere. My heart is with the Jewish community in Bondi, with the victims, the injured, and the families whose lives are forever changed,” the post, written by Nada Abu Alrub and shared to Garbage’s Instagram reads.
“This is what we stand against. Hatred. Racism. Division. Violence in all its forms. There is no place for hate or brutality in our society. We must not allow this horror to be used to divide us. Let it remind us to stand closer and tighter with each other, with love, shared feeling, shared humanity, and for each other. If you are able to donate blood in Sydney, please do. Lives depend on it.”
In the caption of the post, Garbage added:
“Six of our very own, beloved and close family members were at Bondi Beach just a few hours before this horrendous incident took place yesterday [Sunday, Dec. 14th] on the first night of Hanukkah here in Sydney, Australia. Our hearts go out to the victims and their surviving families who are now dealing with unfathomable loss and heartbreak. We love you so much Sydney.
“F*ck all this vile antisemitism. F*ck Islamophobia. The killing has to stop. It is insane and wildly cruel. We have to find a way forward. We simply can’t go on hurting one another like this. If you live in Sydney, please consider donating blood as soon as possible. We love you. Stay soft. Give Blood.”
