Kneecap dropped from Eden Sessions festival, following CAA action

The Eden Sessions festival has cancelled an upcoming performance by Irish hip hop band, Kneecap, following Campaign Against Antisemitism’s letter to the festival organisers.

The band appeared to give its support to Hamas and Hizballah last November in London at their concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.

One member, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouted to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.” This is the emblem of a terrorist group committed to the extermination of Jews.

In a statement following backlash, the group said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizballah.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism also wrote to Glastonbury and other festivals to demand that Kneecap be dropped from their line-ups. Any venue that hosts them risks sending a message that hate has a place on the stage, and that Jews are not welcome.

Concert-goers must be allowed to enjoy live performances without worrying about whether they may be subjected to open support for proscribed terrorist organisations that have openly declared it their mission to murder Jews.

We have also reported Kneecap to Counter Terrorism Police, which is now reviewing footage of the concert, and instructed our lawyers to prepare for a private prosecution if necessary.