Rap duo Bob Vylan: 'We are being targeted for speaking up' after IDF chants
"We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people," the band posted to its social media platform Tuesday. "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," the post continued.
In a performance streamed live from the Glastonbury Festival in England on Saturday by the BBC on Saturday, Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan led the crowd in chants like "Free, free Palestine," "Death, death to the IDF," in reference to the Israel Defense Forces," and "From the river to the sea."
The American Jewish Committee states that "from the river to the sea" is "a phrase that can be used to call for the elimination of the State of Israel and/or ethnic cleansing of Jews living there, to be replaced with Palestinian control over the entire territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea."
Since the performance, the U.S. State Department banned them from the United States.
"The [State Department] has revoked the U.S. visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in an X post Monday.
"Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," he added.
The Avon and Somerset Police Department, who include Glastonbury in its jurisdiction, announced Monday that after having viewed video of the concert, "We have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken."
The BBC also put out a statement Monday that "with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen."
It also appears that Bob Vylan has been dropped by its representation group United Talent Agency, as the band's name is no longer listed on the UTA website. A link to a Bob Vylan UTA page now just leads back to the site's front page.
"We are being targeted for speaking up," continued the post from Bob Vylan, "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," it concluded.
The group still lists tour dates for later this year set to take place around the United States, with no mention of the actions of the U.S. State Department.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
27 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Trump Says Israel Agreed to Terms for 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire
By Updated on Save President Donald Trump said Israel has agreed to the conditions needed for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, adding that the plan would now be presented to Hamas. 'Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding that Qatar and Egypt will deliver the final proposal.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Families mourn after dozens killed in Israel strike on Gaza cafe
Families mourn after dozens killed in Israel strike on Gaza cafe CNN's Jeremy Diamond speaks to families devastated by an Israeli strike on a waterfront cafe in Gaza. 02:32 - Source: CNN Officials report Israeli strike on Gaza cafe More than 40 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a cafe in Gaza, according to hospital officials. The cafe, located near the port in Gaza City, is popular with journalists and students. Israel's military tells CNN it struck several Hamas operatives in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday and that the incident is under review. 01:34 - Source: CNN France bids 'au revoir' to outdoor smoking France has become the first European country to ban smoking in all outdoor areas frequented by children. The ban came into effect on July 1st as President Emmanuel Macron bids to foster 'the first tobacco-free generation' by 2032. 01:09 - Source: CNN Smoke billows after Ukrainian drone strike in Russia Ukraine struck a Russian missile factory inside Russia - authorities said the attack killed three people and injured at least 35 more. 01:04 - Source: CNN Severe heatwave hits Europe Heatwaves have pushed temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in countries across Europe, including Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy. Firefighters battled a wildfire near Athens late last week, and regions of Portugal were under high alert on Sunday. According to experts, the extreme weather is linked to climate change. 00:57 - Source: CNN See swarms of 'lovebugs' invade South Korea Video posted on social media shows thousands of 'lovebugs' blanketing hiking trails on the Gyeyangsan mountain. South Korea is wrestling with an outbreak of the insects, which have been driven into warmer urban areas like Seoul due to climate change, according to a 2022 study. 00:42 - Source: CNN Colombians celebrate Pride in defiance against LGBTQ violence Thousands of Colombians take to the streets of Bogota in celebration of Pride, as well as an act of defiance against violence in the country towards community members. 00:41 - Source: CNN Why Thailand U-turned its cannabis policy Three years since Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis, the government this week imposed new rules designed to rein in the country's 'green rush.' 01:31 - Source: CNN Tens of thousands of protesters at Hostages Square call for an end to the Gaza war CNN's Nic Robertson reports from Tel Aviv where tens of thousands of anti-war protesters packed Hostages Square to call for an end to the Gaza war and the return of the remaining hostages. 00:43 - Source: CNN CNN reports from the huge crowds attending state funerals in Tehran CNN's Frederik Pleitgen describes the scene as thousands of Iranians gathered to mourn military leaders, nuclear scientists and civilians during the country's 12-day conflict with Israel. 01:39 - Source: CNN Iran mourns victims of conflict with Israel Iran held a state funeral for IRGC commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians killed during the country's 12-day conflict with Israel. At least 60 people will be buried at the funeral in Tehran, according to state-affiliated media. 00:52 - Source: CNN Death of 3-month-old baby in Gaza sheds light on humanitarian crisis Despite lifting its 11-week total blockade of Gaza in May, Israel continues to restrict the types of aid allowed into Gaza. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports on Gaza's most vulnerable. 01:27 - Source: CNN Video shows woman clinging to tree as immigration agents try to detain her A bystander captured on video the moment immigration agents in street clothes chased a woman across the street trying to detain her outside of a Home Depot where she had been selling food in West Los Angeles just moments prior. 02:07 - Source: CNN Lauren Sanchez reveals wedding dress Lauren Sanchez revealed her highly-anticipated wedding dress in an exclusive interview with Vogue where she shared the craftsmanship and inspiration behind her custom Dolce & Gabbana gown. 00:42 - Source: CNN See moment suspect lights fire on Seoul subway CCTV footage released by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office captures the moment a man lit a fire on a busy subway in the South Korean capital last month. The footage, from May 31, shows passengers running away after the suspect doused the floor of the train carriage with flammable liquid before setting it alight. Reuters reports that according to the prosecutors' office, six people were injured. The prosecutor's office says it charged the 67-year-old man with attempted murder and arson. 00:48 - Source: CNN Bear on runway forces flight cancellations in Japan A bear running around the runway at Japan's Yamagata Airport has forced staff to cancel flights on Thursday. Traps set up near the runway have failed to catch the bear but will remain in place, according to airport officials. Flights departing from and arriving at Yamagata Airport on Friday are operating as usual. 00:33 - Source: CNN Details emerge of secret diplomatic efforts to restart Iran talks CNN's Kylie Atwood reports on The Trump administration discussing possibly helping Iran access as much as $30 billion to build a civilian-energy-producing nuclear program, easing sanctions, and freeing up billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds. 01:11 - Source: CNN 'He's laughing': CNN reports Kenyan officer laughs after tear gassing protesters On the one-year anniversary of a deadly anti-government protest, thousands returned to the streets in Kenya. CNN's Larry Madowo followed the youth-led march where some protesters were threatening to descend on President William Ruto's residence to confront the leader. 01:44 - Source: CNN Gen. Caine says moment after strikes gave him chills At a press conference about the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, discusses the pilots who carried out the strikes and the reactions from their families after they returned home. 01:09 - Source: CNN
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Trump says Israel has agreed to 60-day Gaza cease-fire
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that Israel has agreed to the "necessary conditions" for a 60-day cease-fire in order to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal," Trump said. Photo by Stefani Reynolds/UPI | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- Israel has agreed to the "necessary conditions" for a 60-day cease-fire in order to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night. The president revealed, in a post on Truth Social, that his administration had just wrapped up a long meeting. "My representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60-day cease-fire, during which time we will work with all parties to end the war," Trump said. "The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring peace, will deliver this final proposal," the president said. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better -- it will only get worse." While Trump said the Israelis had agreed to a cease-fire, it was not clear whether Hamas would accept the terms. Israel has not responded or issued its own statement. The announcement comes one week before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C., where he will meet with Trump at the White House. The two leaders are expected to discuss Gaza and Iran, which struck a separate cease-fire deal with Israel last week following a 12-day campaign that included U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites. The last time Netanyahu met with Trump was in April, when the two leaders discussed trade barriers and before that, in February, after Israel and Hamas signed a cease-fire and hostage release deal one day before Trump took office. January's three-part plan failed to make it past the first stage. In April, Hamas rejected another Gaza cease-fire, proposed by Israel. "We will not accept partial deals that serve Netanyahu's political agenda. Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation, even if the price is sacrificing all his prisoners," Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said earlier this year. In Trump's cease-fire announcement on Tuesday, he did not release any details or conditions. Hamas and Israel confirmed in May that talks to end the war in Gaza and release hostages had resumed. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when 1,200 people were killed and hundreds of others were taken hostage. Some 50 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza with less than half of them believed to be alive. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 56,000 people have been killed since the war began.
