Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten has branded Kneecap’s Mo Chara’s terror cost as a “witch hunt”.
Grian Chatten won’t cease defending Kneecap and displaying his help for Palestine
The 29-year-old singer has vowed to proceed supporting his fellow Irishman within the hip-hop trio after London’s Metropolitan Police accused the group of “displaying a flag in help of proscribed organisation Hezbollah” at their O2 Discussion board Kentish City gig in London in November 2024.
Band member Mo Chara was subsequently charged with a terror offense and is about to seem in courtroom on June 18.
Grian’s personal band not too long ago displayed “free Palestine” and “Israel is committing genocide, use your voice” messages at their Primavera Sound set in Barcelona – and nothing will cease him talking up for Palestine and backing his fellow musician.
He advised The Irish Occasions newspaper: “It’s a categorical witch hunt, and that’s pretty plain to see to anybody who has a discerning eye.
“I stand by their aspect, and I’m completely unafraid to take action. I feel all of us are.”
Grian added of late ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ hitmaker Sinéad O’Connor – who used her music and platform to protest injustices recurrently – that: “Irrespective of how scary it will get on the market, don’t cease speaking about Palestine.
“If Sinéad O’Connor was nonetheless round, she’d be talking up and [would] in all probability have one other media storm raged towards her, as effectively. So, yeah, that’s what I give it some thought.”
He concluded: “I simply suppose if you turn out to be conscious of the information, how many individuals are dying… I don’t actually need to stay in a world the place individuals flip a blind eye to these issues. And I feel the very best factor for us to do, as individuals with platforms, is to steer by instance.”
In an announcement on Instagram concerning the cost, Kneecap wrote: “We deny this ‘offense’ and can vehemently defend ourselves.
“That is political policing. This can be a carnival of distraction.
“14,000 infants are about to die of hunger in Gaza, with meals despatched by the world sitting on the opposite aspect of a wall, and as soon as once more the British institution is targeted on us.
“We’re on the fitting aspect of historical past. You aren’t. We’ll struggle you in courtroom. We’ll win.”
Kneecap had reveals cancelled in consequence however are nonetheless set to play Glastonbury’s West Holts stage at Worthy Farm on Saturday, June 28 at 4pm – regardless of calls from MPs for them to be banned.
