Irish rappers Kneecap have come under attack from the British state and Zionists for their pro-Palestine stance and their support for Irish independence. In the face of these attacks, they have stood firm and performed at Glastonbury Festival this year in June to their largest ever audience. MAYA BULA attended the Glastonbury performance and reports on the Zionist campaign to censor pro-Palestine artists.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, one of the members of Kneecap, is in the crosshairs of the British state, with charges levied against him under the Terrorism Act for allegedly holding a Hezbollah flag at a gig in 2024. He has been released on unconditional bail. Comrades of FRFI joined hundreds who protested outside Mo Chara’s first hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on 18 June. The outpouring of solidarity with Kneecap has ensured that the band has not been isolated in its struggle against a Zionist smear campaign and trumped up charges.
So despite the efforts of the ruling class, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for them to be removed from the set list and the BBC refusing to air their performance live, Glastonbury’s organisers did not buckle. Kneecap delivered an electrifying performance to a crowd of 30,000 on 28 June. The set began with a video collage, first with a sardonic display of news media talking heads and MPs calling to cancel Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury, alongside clips of people voicing their solidarity, and even revolutionary figures such as Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.
Palestinian, Irish and Cuban flags were flown by the crowd. During their set interspersed between their music, there was chanting such as ‘Free, free Palestine!’ and ‘Fuck Keir Starmer!’ as well as calls to support Kneecap in their legal battle, and at one point DJ Provai opened his jumpsuit to reveal a ‘We are all Palestine Action’ shirt. Predictably, Kneecap were reported to the police by the Zionist lobby group UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI), but Avon and Somerset Police announced on 18 July that they would take no further action due to a lack of evidence.
This isn’t the first time the state has attacked Kneecap, as in 2024, Kemi Badenoch blocked an arts grant of £14,250 from being paid to the group. This was due to their opposition to British rule in Ireland, but when brought to the courts, they managed to win that money back.
As Kneecap’s performance went ahead, another artist’s performance sent the ruling class into fits of rage. Kneecap’s warm-up act, the London-based punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of ‘Death, death to the IDF’. The crowd joined in enthusiastically, and it was one of the louder chants, showing keen public support for the defeat of the genocidal Israeli military.
Bob Vylan were immediately accused of antisemitism by Glastonbury’s organisers and the BBC, which publicly ‘regretted’ airing Bob Vylan’s performance. Keir Starmer called the performance ‘hate speech’. Bob Vylan was likewise reported to the police by UKLFI. Despite the local case against Kneecap being dropped, Bob Vylan is still under investigation by Avon and Somerset police.
UKLFI further wrote to gig organisers and owners of venues where Bob Vylan was due to perform, demanding cancellations. Several capitulated, including Radar Festival which cancelled the band’s headline slot. In response several bands have pulled out of the festival in protest; Dublin heavy metal band Scratch stated: ‘This situation will only worsen unless we, as artists, support one another and take action. Get Netanyahu to the ICJ. Up Bob Vylan. Free Palestine.’ An alliance of musicians and artists including Kneecap, Brian Eno and Massive Attack has been formed in response to these attacks by the state to repress artists.
The continued support shown for Kneecap has meant the ruling class has so far failed in its pitiful attempts to bury them under a barrage of mudslinging. We must show the same support to Bob Vylan and all artists who are targeted for their principled support for Palestine and any other anti-imperialist political positions. Our job is to stand in solidarity with such movements and artists because an attack on one is an attack on us all. Solidarity with Kneecap and Bob Vylan! Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied!
Join the protest outside Mo Chara’s next hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on 20 August.
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 307, August/September 2025
