“Why open and publicise an investigation into f**k all?”
Kneecap have shared the email they received from Avon And Somerset Police saying their will be no further action against them.
The fallout from Glastonbury continues.
Last week, it was announced that €40,000 of funding from the French town of Saint-Cloud for the Rock En Seine in Paris was being pulled due to Kneecap’s involvement in the festival.
Not 24 hours after Kneecap and Bob Vylan performed at Glastonbury the Avon And Somerset Police publicly announced they were investigating the bands’ sets for possible terrorism offences.
While Bob Vylan’s is yet to be decided, Kneecap have received news that there will be no charges for the Glastonbury set.
The band shared a screenshot of the email from the police and went onto say, with the NWA song ‘Fuck Tha Police’ attached to the Instagram post…
One element of the political policing intimidation attempt is over.
We played a historic set at Glastonbury. Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the world’s most famous festival.
Shortly afterwards we learn of an active police investigation. An investigation that followed after the Prime Minister himself said it “was not appropriate” we played Glastonbury.
Walk off stage to the rapturous sounds of good people and into the creaking scheming sounds of the establishment.
This “investigation” was reported across the world’s media often with wildly misleading headlines.
Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close….yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.
Why open and publicise an investigation into fuck all?
This is political.
This is targetted.
This is state intimidation.
After the media damage is inflicted and seen by millions of eyes – you receive a private email to say there’s no evidence and no action – that is seen by two people only.
There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts.
We will continue to fight.
We will continue to win.
Meanwhile, in Kneecap’s confirmed court case, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail, with the legal case set for August 20th.
Kneecap, Massive Attack and artists form solidarity alliance of musicians on speaking out about Gaza.
Massive Attack have urged artists to speak out on Palestine, in the face of possible sanctions and silences from the UK government and beyond.
The band, along with Kneecap, Fontaines D.C., Brian Eno, Garbage and other artists have formed a solidarity alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza due to intimidations from within the music industry.”
“The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description. We write as artists who’ve chose to use our public platforms to speak out agains the genocide occurring there & the role of the UK Government in facilitating it.
“Because of our expressions of conscience, we’ve been subject to various intimidations from within our industry (live & recorded) & legally via organised bodies such as UK Lawyers For Israel; whose range of activities has now finally been exposed in a new documentary film projected last night by the Led By Donkeys collective.
We’re aware of the scale of aggressive, vexatious campaigns operated by UKLFI, & of multiple individual incidences of intimidation within the music industry itself; designed solely to censor & silence artists from speaking their hearts & minds.
Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won’t standby & allow other artists – particularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerability – to be threatened into silence or career cancellation. In this spirit, we encourage artists who’ve been placed in this position, or those who now wish to use their platforms to talk about Palestine, but are concerted about industrial or legal repercussions to contact us @ [email protected].
We want to work together to share experiences and creative, factual resources, & vitally, to stand in strength & solidarity to collectively demand:
- Immediate, unfettered access to Gaza for recognised international aid agencies without military threat
- the end of the atrocious targeting of medical & aid workers.
- An end to UK arms sales/licenses to israel.
- An immediate & permanent ceasefire.
- A free Palestine.
- If you’ve felt anxious about speaking out before but feel it’s too late. It isn’t.
- It’s never too late to join this movement. Everyone is welcome.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
