Amnesty Concert Holiday Conflict

Amnesty International’s Los Angeles office confirmed Wednesday that it had received more than 40 complaints regarding its benefit concert at the Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 21 because the date is also Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish faith.

“We want to express those regrets and our apology to the Jewish community, which is a very strong supporter of human rights,” said David Hinkley, director for the Western Region of Amnesty International.

He described the scheduling as “unfortunate--particularly in the light that we’re honoring the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, which was created in large part due to what happened to the Jewish people in the Holocaust.”

Brian Murphy, president of concert promoter of Avalon Attractions, also expressed regret. He said that the tour planners knew that the date would fall on the holiday, but said it was the only date available due to the difficulties of scheduling this international tour.

Rabbi Steve Leader of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a Reform congregation, said that the timing is unfortunate, but felt, if the conflict was unavoidable, that “it’s better having it on Yom Kippur” than not at all.