OPINION: Why is Glastonbury giving a stage to cheerleaders of Jew killers?
A festival where “discrimination of any sort is not tolerated” is platforming a group that glorifies those who murder Jews and call for deadly political violence
This weekend, at the UK’s largest and most influential music festival, a band whose member has been charged with a terror offence will take the stage in front of thousands. That band is Kneecap. Their member, Mo Chara, was charged in May under the Terrorism Act after allegedly displaying the flag of Hezbollah, a genocidal terrorist organisation whose stated aim is the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state, during a live show.
This is not some youthful outburst or misunderstood political provocation. It’s the celebration of a group that has murdered countless innocents, targeted Jews globally and remains proscribed by the UK government.
This is also far from an isolated incident. Kneecap have previously voiced support on stage for Hamas, a terror group responsible for the greatest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust.
They’ve shouted “F*** Israel” to crowds, encouraged audiences to “kill your local MP”, stated “the only good Tory is a dead Tory” and consistently pushed their hateful agenda under the veil of anti-establishment cool.
Glastonbury, which brands itself as an inclusive utopia where “discrimination of any sort is not tolerated,” is platforming a group that glorifies those who murder Jews and calls for deadly political violence.
That’s not just hypocrisy, it’s moral collapse. How exactly is chanting “F*** Israel”, a state that exists as a refuge for Jews after centuries of persecution, anything but the collective demonisation of Jews? Especially when the vast majority of global Jewry identify as Zionists, meaning they believe in the Jewish right to self-determination and existence of the state of Israel.
But maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. The Eavis family, custodians of Glastonbury, are not defying their audience, they’re reflecting it. They’ve seen which way the wind is blowing. Loud voices on social media and from the main stages have spent the last 20 months pushing the idea that there is only one acceptable view of Israel, hatred. Not criticism, hatred. Not protest, demonisation. The line has moved so far that waving the flag of Hezbollah or backing Hamas doesn’t lose you your slot on the Glastonbury stage, it earns you applause.
Now imagine a different scenario.
Let’s pretend a right-leaning skinhead band had been booked. Yes, they’d flirted with controversy in the past, but nothing definitive. Then, just weeks before Glastonbury, one of their members is caught on stage putting on a Klan hood, thrown to him by a member of the audience, shouting “Up the KKK!” Maybe they post a photo of themselves reading Mein Kampf. The police investigate, Crown Prosecution Service brings charges, thousands of far-right fans chant their support outside court.
Would that band still be on the bill? Would thousands of festival-goers simply shrug it off?
Of course not, because the Glastonbury crowd, rightly, would never tolerate the celebration of white supremacist violence. But when the violence is antisemitic, when the murderers are anti-Israel, the rules change. Suddenly, it’s edgy, it’s rebellious, it’s political commentary. Not hate speech, but “resistance.”
This isn’t about cancelling artists for political views. This is about recognising that glorifying terrorist groups, especially ones that target Jews, isn’t edgy or provocative, it’s hateful and by giving Kneecap a platform, Glastonbury isn’t just tolerating that hatred, it is legitimising it.
This weekend, thousands will cheer this group & the organisers will say they stand against discrimination. Who exactly do they think that promise applies to? Certainly not Jews! And don’t worry, if you happen to miss Kneecap’s performance in person, then unlike in the good old 1930s when you had to rely on your mates to tell you all about the comradely Jew-hate at the local Mosley rally, this time you can just catch it on iPlayer. Because of course the BBC will be broadcasting it.
We’re done hiding in the face of hate, apologising for existing, we won’t stand quietly by while those who glorify terrorists are given a stage & a spotlight. Not now, not ever.
#StandUpSpeakOutBeProud
Leo Pearlman is a TV producer and co-CEO of Fulwell Entertainment
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
