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DJ Próvai from Kneecap acting onstage at Coachella on 11 April
The west Belfast rap workforce Kneecap have hit again at a decision for his or her US visas to be revoked after their efficiency at Coachella the place they ended their set with pro-Palestinian messages.
Writing on social media, TV character and song supervisor Sharon Osbourne stated the hip-hop trio “took their efficiency to another stage by way of incorporating competitive political statements”.
When requested by way of BBC Information NI for a reaction, the band spoke back: “Statements don’t seem to be competitive, murdering 20,000 kids is although.”
The pageant’s organisers have additionally been approached for remark.
Kneecap had been vocal supporters of the Palestinian folks, ceaselessly elevating the war of their reside performances.
Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 folks – most commonly civilians – and taking 251 again to Gaza as hostages.
Israel introduced an enormous army offensive in reaction, which has killed 51,240 Palestinians – basically civilians – consistent with figures launched by way of Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry.
The choice of kids who’ve been killed in Gaza is disputed. Global newshounds together with the BBC are blocked by way of Israel from coming into Gaza independently so are not able to independently check figures.
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Kneecap member Mo Chara wore a keffiyeh shawl – a logo of Palestinian id – all the way through the band’s efficiency on 18 April
In a remark to BBC Information NI, the USA State Division stated when making an allowance for revocations, they take a look at knowledge that “might point out a possible visa ineligibility below US immigration rules, pose a danger to public protection, or different eventualities the place revocation is warranted”.
The band are set to play various displays in the USA and Canada in coming months.
What did Sharon Osbourne say about Kneecap?
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Sharon Osbourne is the spouse of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, and a former pass judgement on of TV skill displays The X-Issue and The usa’s Were given Ability
On Tuesday, Osbourne claimed on social media the band’s movements incorporated “projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech”.
“This band brazenly enhance terrorist organizations,” she added.
Ms Osbourne was once additionally essential of the organisers of the pageant, Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of Anschutz Leisure Workforce (AEG).
“Experiences point out that Goldenvoice was once ignorant of Kneecap’s political intentions after they have been booked,” Osbourne stated.
“Then again, after witnessing their efficiency all the way through the primary weekend, permitting them to carry out once more the next weekend suggests enhance in their rhetoric and a loss of due diligence,” she persevered.
“This behaviour raises considerations in regards to the appropriateness in their participation in any such pageant and additional displays they’re booked to play in the United States,” Osbourne stated.
“I do know for a incontrovertible fact that positive folks within the trade had written to Goldenvoice, airing their considerations across the reserving of Kneecap,” she stated.
Osbourne is the spouse of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, and a former pass judgement on of TV skill displays The X-Issue and The usa’s Were given Ability.
She additionally controlled her husband’s solo occupation.
Osbourne completed her submit by way of pronouncing: “As any individual of each Irish Catholic on my mom’s aspect and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on her father’s aspect and intensive revel in within the song trade, I perceive the complexities concerned.
“I beg you to enroll in me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s paintings visa.”
The pageant organisers had been approached for remark.
Kneecap at Coachella
Caution: This text options language that some readers might to find offensive
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On the finish in their set at the second one weekend of Coachella, the band projected a message: “[Expletive] Israel. Unfastened Palestine.”
On the finish in their set at the second one weekend of Coachella, which was once no longer streamed at the pageant’s authentic YouTube web page, Kneecap projected 3 monitors of textual content.
The primary message stated: “Israel is committing genocide towards the Palestinian folks,” adopted by way of: “It’s being enabled by way of the USA govt who arm and fund Israel regardless of their conflict crimes,” and a last display added: “[Expletive] Israel. Unfastened Palestine.”
All through the efficiency, band member Mo Chara stated: “The Irish no longer goodbye in the past have been persecuted by the hands of the Brits, however we have been by no means bombed from the… skies with nowhere to head.
“The Palestinians have nowhere to head.”
The band additionally led the target audience in chants of: “Unfastened, unfastened Palestine”.
On 11 April, all the way through Kneecap’s first Coachella efficiency, the gang confronted grievance after main an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant – which was once due to this fact ignored from the pageant’s livestream – together with requires a united Eire.
What has the USA State Division stated?
A US State Division spokesperson stated: “Because of privateness and different issues, and visa confidentiality, we normally won’t touch upon division movements with recognize to express instances.”
They stated the Trump management “is concerned about protective our country and our electorate by way of upholding the best possible requirements of nationwide safety and public protection thru our visa procedure”.
“When making an allowance for revocations, the dep. appears to be like at knowledge that arises after the visa was once issued that can point out a possible visa ineligibility below US immigration rules, pose a danger to public protection, or different eventualities the place revocation is warranted,” they added.
“It will come with the whole lot from arrests, prison convictions, and attractive in behavior this is inconsistent with the visa classification, to an overstay.”
