We, a collective of proud Londoners are deeply concerned about the inclusion of the Belfast-based Hip Hop group Kneecap as a supporting act for Fontaines D.C. at Finsbury Park on 5th July 2025. Our concern stems from the band’s well-documented history of promoting hate speech, incitement to violence, and glorification of terrorism—behaviours that run counter to Festival Republic’s own public commitment to inclusion and safety.

Festival Republic’s Stance on Discrimination

Festival Republic has stated clearly:

“We don’t accept any discrimination towards any individual or groups of individuals at any of our festivals. Irrespective of the background of the individual (be that gender, race, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity) everyone should be treated equally. We are proud of the diverse nature of our festivals and their customers, so if you see or experience anyone undermining this, no matter the severity, please report it immediately to one of our onsite staff. We take all reports of discrimination seriously.” (festivalrepublic.com)

We wholeheartedly agree—and on this basis, we ask you to act.

Kneecap's Documented Actions

Despite Festival Republic’s admirable standards, Kneecap’s recent history includes:

1. Support for Terrorist Groups

On 21 November 2024, Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (“Mo Chara”) was charged under section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 for displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town

2. Incitement to Violence

During the same performance, Kneecap led their audience in chants of “Ooh Ah Hezbollah” and “Up Hamas,” both groups being proscribed terrorist organisations under UK law. Video evidence of this event remains widely accessible online.

3. Glorification of Political Violence.

At a 2023 performance, the band led chants of “The only good Tory is a dead Tory” and “Kill your local MP.” The group later issued an apology after an emotional public statement from the daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess.

4. Promotion of Antisemitic Propaganda.

In February 2025, Kneecap posted an image on Instagram of a band member reading Voice of Hezbollah: Statements of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a book containing extreme antisemitic views. Chapter 12 describes Jews as “descendants of apes and pigs” and praises “tearing apart the bodies of the Jews” via suicide attacks. Though the post has since been deleted, screenshots remain widely circulated and were viewed nearly 5 million times prior to deletion.

5. Post-October 7th Endorsement.

On the day following Hamas’s massacre of over 1,200 civilians in Israel on 7 October 2023—including children, women, and the elderly—Kneecap posted “Solidarity with the Palestinian struggle” on their social media. They have not clarified or walked back this endorsement of a day now recognised internationally for its horrific violence.

Kneecap deny supporting terrorist groups, but their actions—including support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and public statements inciting violence—directly contradict that claim. The Hamas charter unequivocally calls for the murder of Jews worldwide, not just in Israel. Anyone supporting Hamas is endorsing the murder of all Jews, including in Britain.

The Impact on London’s Jewish Community

The Jewish population in London has already faced a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, including physical attacks, verbal abuse, and harassment in schools and universities. For example:

• A visibly Jewish man was violently assaulted on a London street in 2024 during a pro-Palestinian rally.
• Jewish students have reported being targeted in classrooms and excluded from campus spaces for their identity and beliefs.
• Synagogues, cemeteries, and Jewish homes have been defaced with antisemitic graffiti across multiple boroughs.

With this in mind, the inclusion of a band with a clear record of inciting hatred and glorifying antisemitic terror represents not just a betrayal of Festival Republic’s values, but an alarming risk to the physical and emotional safety of Jewish attendees.

We believe in freedom of speech. We think that everyone should have the right to speak their mind about the war in Gaza and any other political issue. We welcome debate. However, Kneecap crossed the line from supporting Palestinians to supporting Hamas and Hezbollah - two banned terrorist organisations that call for the murder of Jews and Israelis. Justifying fascist violence and rhetoric against Jews and Israelis cloaked in the language of social justice and for the sake of ‘humanity’ is still antisemitic Jew-hatred and incitement, however one tries to package it. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for intolerance, no more so than when it masquerades as virtue.

Our Call to Action

We respectfully request that Festival Republic:

1. Remove Kneecap from the performance lineup at Finsbury Park on 5th July 2025.

2. Affirm that your festivals will not host artists who promote, incite, or glorify terrorism, antisemitism, or political violence.

3. Stand publicly with London’s Jewish community, and demonstrate that Festival Republic’s values of safety, diversity, and inclusion are not optional, but foundational.

Failure to act sends a troubling message: that those who incite hatred against Jews, MPs, or other vulnerable groups can still enjoy prestigious stages and commercial success—while the communities they endanger are told to look the other way.

Questions for Festival Republic

Given we have clearly laid out the recent history of Kneecap’s actions, we would like to pose the following questions to Festival Republic:

1. With full knowledge of Kneecap’s hate speech, including the charge under the Terrorism Act, does Festival Republic wish to continue to give a platform to this band at Finsbury Park?

2. In the event Mo Chara is found guilty of the terror charge, will Festival Republic continue to promote and host a convicted felon and/or his bandmates associated with the same acts?

3. Finally, if the answers to the above two questions are in the affirmative, are we to assume that Festival Republic is prepared to prioritise monetary gain over taking a public stand against incitement to terror and hatred against the Jewish people and Members of Parliament?

We trust that you will respond promptly to our concerns and uphold the values your organisation proudly claims to represent.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Londoners and Allies Against Hate