Rodrigo Duterte's Latest Nemesis: James Taylor

Singer cancels concert, calls extrajudicial killings in Philippines 'deeply concerning'
By Linda Hervieux,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 21, 2016 7:51 AM CST
James Taylor Cancels Philippines Show in Protest
Singer James Taylor cancelled a concert in Manila in protest over extrajudicial killings carried out under President Rodrigo Duterte.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

James Taylor has canceled a concert in the Philippines in protest over President Rodrigo Duterte's mass executions of criminals. "I don’t think of my music as being particularly political but sometimes one is called upon to make a political stand," the Grammy-winner tweeted. Taylor, 68, says he decided to ax his February concert in Manila after "recent reports from the Philippines of summary executions of suspected offenders without trial or judicial process." He called the killings "deeply concerning and unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law." Since his May election, Duterte has waged war on drug dealers and other criminals, with more than 5,300 killings carried out by police or vigilantes, reports the Guardian. The extrajudicial executions have drawn global condemnation, enraging the notoriously foul-mouthed Duterte. Taylor said other concert dates in Asia and Australia are unaffected. (Duterte says God threatened to crash his plane.)

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