Scooter Braun, a prominent music manager, has vowed that “hatred and fear” won’t force him to remove an exhibit dedicated to the victims of the Nova Music Festival attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The festival was targeted in a brutal attack by Hamas, resulting in the loss of many lives and the capture of numerous hostages. The festival, intended as a celebration of peace and love, was cut short by this act of violence.
Mr. Braun conveyed his thoughts on the protesters: “I believe that most of these protesters are just incredibly misinformed, and some of the leaders of these protesters have an agenda of division. And that’s not going to scare us, nor affect us. In fact, it inspires us to do it more and more. It’s more important for us to fight back, to show our shared humanity.”
A pro-Palestinian protest gathered outside the Nova exhibit this week, resulting in three arrests. The protesters moved through Manhattan and convened outside the exhibit, waving the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah.
The White House and local politicians have denounced the protests, and the exhibit’s organizers have extended the exhibition in response to the protests. The exhibit aims to honor the memory of the more than 360 people murdered during the terror attack and to fight for shared humanity.
New York Mayor Eric Adams told the press: “Our Constitution and our way of life in our city permits free speech and part of that free speech that is protected is some of the ugly things we heard. We have also the right to say, ‘This is not who we are as a city,’ and I’m exercising that right, right now.”
Together with Israeli organizers Yagil Simony, Ofir Amir, and Omri Sasi, Mr. Braun brought the exhibit to the United States to shed light on the tragedy, steering clear of political undertones. “It’s just about a massacre at a music festival that should have never happened. But music is a universal language and music has to remain a safe place,” he said.
With grandparents who survived the Holocaust, Mr. Braun described his harrowing visit to Nova, feeling a strong need to document and share what he witnessed, as “so much of it was being denied and people were dehumanizing each other.”
“These people weren’t there to fight,” Mr. Braun said. “They were at a music festival, dancing for peace, and they were brutally butchered—over 360 killed, over 40 taken hostage. This is the largest music massacre in history by far.”
Survivor’s Story
Raif Rosh, an Israeli-Druze DJ who survived the Nova Music massacre, shared his story with The Epoch Times. Since returning to the United States, Mr. Rosh has been documenting pro-Israel marches in New York. “What I experienced on October 7 changed me,” he said, reflecting on the traumatic event. Observing the protests in New York, he said, “It makes me so nervous.”“October 7 can happen here.”
“There’s no peace with them,” Mr. Rosh stated regarding the protesters who set off flares outside the exhibit. “I was almost killed on October 7.”
To those who doubt the events of that day, he insists, “I want people to see.”
Mr. Rosh believes the current battle is online. “The war we’re in now is with the [social] media,” he explained, noting that his videos from the festival, which captured concertgoers being killed, have been blocked and removed on Instagram and Facebook. He emphasizes the importance of the exhibit, stating, “I want people to see.” At the exhibit, he has met people from diverse backgrounds, including Jewish, Christian, and American visitors.
Recalling a protest last month, he said, “They burned an American flag. How can they do that in this country?”
One person was arrested recently for burning an American and an Israeli flag outside of the Israeli Consulate in New York City. The act has led to increased security outside of the consulate.
Currently housed at 35 Wall Street in New York City, the exhibit will remain open for an additional week.
Mr. Braun explained: “We’ve decided to show people that we’re not going to allow hatred and fear to divide us. We’re extending our stay in New York so more people can witness and understand the true essence of this exhibit. We won’t let a vocal minority divide us. I’ve even invited the protesters to come and see the exhibit for themselves.”
