16-11-2023 (JAKARTA) Anti-LGBT protesters gathered outside Coldplay’s highly anticipated concert in Indonesia on Wednesday (Nov. 15), where they engaged in clashes with the police and jeered at concertgoers, according to a report by AFP.
These groups had called for the cancellation of Coldplay’s only concert in Indonesia this year due to their disagreements with the band’s support for the LGBT community and its views on related issues.
Chris Martin, the band’s frontman, has previously shown support for the LGBT community by wearing rainbow colors and waving pride flags during performances. Coldplay is known for incorporating advocacy into their shows.
The concert took place at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta as part of Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” world tour. More than 70,000 tickets were sold, and they were quickly sold out within hours of going on sale.
Protests and clashes with police occurred before the concert, with approximately 300 protesters chanting and displaying banners opposing the show, as reported by AFP.
The majority of the protesters belonged to a group that identifies itself as the “anti-LGBT movement.” When confronted by the police, clashes between the protesters and officers ensued. The protesters also continued to express their disapproval by booing concertgoers as they arrived at the stadium. Banners carried by the protesters accused the band of spreading “LGBT propaganda” that allegedly undermines the country’s “faith and morals.”
According to Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, a spokesperson for the Jakarta police, nearly 4,000 officers were deployed to maintain order during the concert. He also stated that the protesters did not have the necessary permit to stage a rally.
Despite the earlier protests, the Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno, announced that the concert would proceed as planned, as reported by the Jakarta Post on Nov. 15. Uno emphasized that the government would collaborate with the police to ensure a smooth, safe, and enjoyable concert experience.
Earlier protests had taken place on Nov. 10 outside the British Embassy in Jakarta, according to Tempo.co. One of the protest coordinators, Muhyiddin Junaidi, stated, “We are not rejecting Coldplay as a musician, but an indiscernible part of the international [LGBTQ+] propaganda.”
The decision to hold the concert had also garnered criticism from Anwar Abbas, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s most influential Islamic regulatory body, AFP reported. Abbas had previously publicly called for the cancellation of the show, arguing that the band had “no place in [Indonesia] to perform and hold a concert.”
Despite the controversy and protests, Coldplay’s concert in Jakarta proceeded as planned, entertaining thousands of fans amidst heightened security measures.
