Bob Vylan has broken its silence following a controversy surrounding their Glastonbury performance, asserting they are “being targeted for speaking up.”
For those unfamiliar, the UK punk group chanted “death to the IDF” during their recent Glastonbury set, which ignited widespread outrage across social media.
In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday, July 1, the group clarified, “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
Notably, they were referencing a report from the Israeli news outlet Haaretz, which alleged that IDF soldiers and officers were ordered to fire upon unarmed individuals near food aid distribution sites in Gaza, despite there being no perceived threat, and where hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly been killed.
During their performance, Bob Vylan also led chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” However, this specific slogan caused significant upset among many in the US and UK, including politicians, media commentators, and Jewish organizations in both countries.
Authorities are currently investigating the statements made by Bob Vylan and the Irish band Kneecap. Bob Vylan’s US visas have been revoked, and they have been dropped by their agency, UTA. The BBC is also facing criticism for not halting the livestream of the contentious performance.
Responding to the ongoing backlash, the band further stated, “We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. The government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren’t doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?”
“Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. Last week it was a Palestine pressure group, the week before that it was another band. We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people.”
“We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
“We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”
“The government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren’t doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?”
“The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction.”
“We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too.”
“Free Palestine,” the statement concluded.
