The Irish-language band Kneecap and the rap-punk duo Bob Vylan performed at the Glastonbury Festival over the weekend and chanted slogans for “death” to the Israeli military and a “free Palestine,” according to British police.
According to police, the performances at Britain’s biggest summer music festival were “recorded as a public order incident” on Monday.
Up until the weekend, rapper Bobby Vylan, who was largely unknown, sung chants to “free, free Palestine” and “death, death” to the Israeli military.
The BBC said it regrets having the performance livestreamed, and that the broadcaster should have canceled it.
There is no justification for such “appalling hate speech,” according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other UK politicians. Starmer added that the BBC must “tell us how these scenes came to be broadcast.”
The broadcasting regulator Ofcom expressed “very concern” about the BBC livestream and stated that the broadcaster “clearly has questions to answer.”
In response to Bob Vylan’s “hateful tirade at Glastonbury,” the US Department of State announced that it had suspended his visas for the country.
In a social media post, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote that “foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
Pro-Palestinian protests are erupting all over the world as a result of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, which has sparked pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses and in many capitals. Israel and some of its supporters have called the demonstrations anti-Semitic, but its opponents claim Israel uses such descriptions to silence its supporters.
According to the Gaza-based Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have killed at least 56, 531 people and injured 133, 642 while maintaining a crippling siege over the bombarded enclave.
In its lyrics, Bob Vylan, who is known for bringing together grime and punk rock, addresses racism, homophobia, and the class divide, and has previously endorsed Palestinians.
In a post on Instagram, the group’s lead vocalist, Bobby Vylan, said, “I said what I said,” referring to the weekend performance.
The only way to improve the world is to teach our children to speak up for the changes they need, he continued.
The duo’s set was not livestreamed by the BBC but still attracted a sizable online following thanks to TikTok, which the duo performed Saturday afternoon just before Kneecap. Another band with a strong pro-Palestine stance that has previously sparked controversy.
Kneecap chanted “Free Palestine” to a crowd of tens of thousands at the festival. Starmer, who had claimed he didn’t think it was “appropriate” for Kneecap to play Glastonbury after one of its members was accused under the Terrorism Act, was also sprayed with expletive-laden chants.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who goes by the name Mo Chara, is accused of supporting a prohibited organization after allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last year.
Israel’s war effort in Gaza has been met with constant international apprehension. In support of Palestinians, thousands of people gather every week in Europe and around the world.
Source: Aljazeera
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