Pharrell Williams can't avoid Palestine protest in South Africa, judge rules

posted on: Sep 20, 2015

American pop singer Pharrell Williams will not be able to avoid a large Palestinian rights protest in South Africa, a judge has ruled.

Last week, the “Happy” singer’s promoters Sun International asked a court to limit a planned protest near the Grand West Casino in Cape Town where he is due to perform on Monday.

Williams has been the target of protests because of his endorsement deal with Woolworths, a national retailer that stocks Israeli goods.

His visit to South Africa is part of his collaboration with Woolworths.

Unconstitutional
The promoters later withdrew the court action, but the City of Cape Town itself imposed a limit of just 150 protesters.

On Saturday, the Western Cape High Court found that this limit was unconstitutional, according to a statement from protest organizers BDS South Africa and the National Coalition 4 Palestine.

Judge Siraj Desai ruled that the protest could include up to 16,000 people, public broadcaster SABC reported.

Source: electronicintifada.net