The U.S. has revoked Bob Vylan’s visas following their Glastonbury music festival performance, where Bobby Vylan led fans in a chant to “Free, free Palestine!” and “Death to the IDF!” Similar to the witchhunt, Irish band Kneecap has been experiencing following their pro-Palestine messaging at Coachella, now fellow rap-punks, Bob Vylan have come under fire.
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The U.S. Department of State shared on social media that it “revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
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Fellow artists, fans, the ACLU, journalists, humanitarians, activists, and more have spoken up on behalf of the British punk-rap duo. Many citing the hypocrisy of allowing genocidal war criminals and IDF soldiers into the U.S. despite the horrific genocide they’re committing against Palestinians.
British political commentator Marina Purkiss, spoke up in defense of Bob Vylan on Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show arguing that if “your moral compass is sent spinning becaue of this stupid chant, and not because of premature babies being left to decompse in a hospital, then I’m sorry, but you’re completely wrong it the head.” Purkiss further pointed out how “people at home will have seen video upon video, upon video of IDF soldiers gleefully talking about detonating hospitals, and schools and whatever else, and doing worse.”
The ACLU also shared a statement: “Revoking an artist’s visa for their speech, no matter how controversial, doesn’t make us safe. The government should not be policing the artistic or political expression of citizens, visitors, or anyone else.”
Countless artists from Lambrini Girls, Amy L & The Sniffers, Big Joanie, Lava La Rue, and more came to the defense of Bob Vylan.
RELATED: Johnny Marr Speaks Up for Kneecap Ahead of Their Glastonbury Set
Bob Vylan is scheduled to tour the U.S. with grandson this fall including a Los Angeles tour stop at The Bellwether scheduled for November 19.
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