Kneecap – along with Irish in London for Palestine – are encouraging fans to support Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh during his court hearing on Friday.
Ó hAnnaidh, also known by his stage name Mo Chara, is facing terrorism charges for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag during a Kneecap concert in November.
Kneecap denied the charges and labelled the move as ‘political policing.’
The event is set to take place at 9am this Friday outside Westminster magistrate’s court with a line-up including Na Cairde collective and other unannounced speakers.
The Instagram post urges fans to ‘get yizzer selves down to support Liam Óg and Kneecap against British State Repression’.
The post said: “We will not stay silent. An injury to one is an injury to all. Free Palestine, from the river to the sea.”
Kneecap also posted about the demonstration on X last week describing the court hearing as a ‘witch hunt’.
They wrote: “Isaac Herzog [President of Israel], a man the UN says is complicit in genocide, was welcomed to Downing Street last week for tea. Mo Chara meanwhile, who has spoken against genocide across the world, they allege is a terrorist.”
This is not the band’s first run-in with controversy having made headlines for their performances at Coachella and Glastonbury.
Despite endless scandal, last week Kneecap held their biggest concert in England to date at Wembley Ovo arena.
Fans packed out the venue wearing keffiyehs, Gaelic jerseys, tricoloured balaclavas and Palestinian flags.
Ó hAnnaidh told the crowd: “There’s a reason it falls to artists to be the people spearheading these campaigns and movements – it’s because politicians won’t.”
Kneecap fan Cormac Hayes said: “I initially followed the band for their music but the way they use their platform to speak out and address issues that may not necessarily get the same attention in the mainstream media is very positive.
“I am impressed with the way a smaller group managed to get into the mainstream for speaking out about injustice.
“You can tell from interviews that they truly do believe in what they are saying, and they aren’t doing it to get attention.
“They have people’s attention, so they are making injustice known.”
While the trio may have been banned from performing in Canada and the U.S it is clear they still have a strong fan base supporting them.
Featured image by Cormac Hayes
