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Andy Worthington's avatar

Another very apt Protest Song of the Week, Kevin. Amy spoke out very eloquently at Glastonbury, as did many other artists, as you note, while the media and politicians tried to shift the focus solely onto Bob Vylan, after he usurped Kneecap as Public Enemy No. 1 with what, basically, was an expression of support for armed resistance to the genocide-committing Israeli army. As always, the Palestinians are meant to simply lie down and be killed without even complaining.

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Kevin Gosztola's avatar

Thanks, Andy. I saw Bob Vylan played the 100 Club in London's Soho neighborhood and had to tell the crowd to stop chanting against the IDF because of the current police investigation. This is the environment for artists that use their platform. When outspoken artists with large or smaller notoriety come under attack, we need to see the kind of solidarity and defense that Amyl and the Sniffers and other acts at Glastonbury showed.

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Andy Worthington's avatar

Yes, I saw that, Kevin. Apparently, singer Bobby (Pascal) said, “you are going to get me in trouble, apparently every other chant is fine but yous [sic] will get me in trouble”, because the police are specifically investigating his Glastonbury chant, and an earlier gig in London in May, in which a video allegedly shows him saying, “Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.”

I reiterate my earlier comment: there is nothing intrinsically unacceptable about anyone expressing support for armed resistance to an army of illegal occupation committing genocide.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/10/bob-vylan-frontman-warns-youll-get-me-in-trouble-after-further-idf-chants

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Gladwyn d'Souza's avatar

Bands need to start singing about ending the occupation and apartheid and settlers going home, the message of death death to the IDF. Saw that Vylan’s album has topped the charts, they need to release a new self promoted album or song.

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Jim S's avatar

Thank You Kevin

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