Kneecap Have A Platform – Of Course They’re Going To Use It

Although the general population of Ireland and the UK is aware of the ‘Republican Hoods’ known as Kneecap, for many Americans, Kneecap’s Coachella set was their first impression of the band… and a sour one at that, to any right wing viewers.

Kneecap have never shied away from political discourse with their firm leftist stance on humanitarian issues… and the conflict occurring in Palestine is no exception. Over the past few years, we have seen the band’s, as well as a large chunk of the Irish population, continuous support for Palestine.

It’s no secret why the people of Ireland share a connection with the Palestinian cause. If we look back at our history over the last 500 years, Irish people were continuously oppressed, stripped of their culture, tortured and starved by our colonisers, Great Britain.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Palestine Lobby (@palestinelobby)

During their Coachella set, the band harkened back to this history, stating, “The Irish not so long ago were persecuted at the hands of the Brits, but we were never bombed from the f*cking skies with nowhere to go. The Palestinians have nowhere to go, it’s their f*cking home and their bombing them from the skies. If you’re not calling it a genocide what the f*ck are you calling it?”

Kneecap’s message from the beginning has been one of Irish nationalism, a stand against Britain and the promotion of the language they striped from us so long ago. Their aim is to restore Irish culture with its main source, Gaeilge.

Maybe Coachella festival promotor Goldenvoice did not do their research, or maybe they did and wanted to see the Irish band take a stand on the stage.

Regardless, Kneecap has never tended to stay silent on issues that cause for political attention, and on a stage as large as Coachella, in one of the most powerful countries in the world, of course they felt the need to take the opportunity.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)

The set on April 18 took place in the Senora tent with a projected screen stating, “F*CK ISRAEL, FREE PALESTINE”. The statement has received much support, but it has also been the subject of much backlash, with the likes of Sharon Osbourne even calling for the trio’s work visas to be revoked.

Many have labelled the band as “Anti-Israel” and “Anti-Semitic”, while on stage they continued to chant “Free, free” while the crowd responded with, “Palestine!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)

Kneecap are a driving force for expressing political views within art, something that they feel they have to do given their ever growing platform.

”We have to use whatever wee platform we have to talk about this stuff ,” they say. “Believe me, I’d love to not have to give political views but nothing is changing. Don’t get it twisted, the American government can stop this tomorrow morning.”

Almost 80 years since the first Arab-Israeli war took place, and a year and a half since the attacks on Gaza began, the general public – and the Irish trio – will not silence their beliefs.