Speaking Out Despite Intimidation The artists involved — particularly Massive Attack and Brian Eno — have long supported Palestine. Irish rap group Kneecap has been in the spotlight recently after group member Mo Chara (Liam Og O hAnnaidh) was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert. They claim this is part of a smear campaign against them due to their outspoken stance on Gaza, which they describe as a genocide. Massive Attack stated, “We write as artists who’ve chosen to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there and the role of the UK Government in facilitating it.” They noted they’ve been subjected to attempted censorship through both industry pressure and aggressive legal actions from groups such as UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). High-Profile Incidents and Cancellations UKLFI has been linked to a number of high-profile actions. The group: Reported punk duo Bob Vylan to police after they led chants of “Death to the IDF” during their Glastonbury set. Lodged a complaint with the BBC for broadcasting the performance. Targeted Kneecap, leading to the cancellation of several of their gigs. Is believed to have contacted other artists and organizations in private, contributing to a climate of fear. Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury was filled with Palestinian flags, and came shortly after Bob Vylan’s set. Police launched an investigation into the latter group, who formed in 2017. Instagram Call to Action The shared Instagram post emphasized solidarity and called on other artists to join their cause: “Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won’t stand by and allow other artists – particularly those at earlier stages of their careers – to be threatened into silence or career cancellation.” They invited like-minded individuals to get in touch via ethicalsyndicatepalestine@pm.me and made a series of demands: An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza Free and unrestricted humanitarian access to the region An end to UK arms sales and licences to Israel A call for a Free Palestine Response from UK Lawyers for Israel In response, a UKLFI spokeswoman accused Massive Attack of launching an attack on their organisation, which they claim “helps to protect victims of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel racism.” Following Massive Attack’s performance at London’s Lido Festival in June — where they invited an “anti-Israel activist” on stage and showed controversial images — UKLFI said they received complaints from Jewish and Israeli audience members, some of whom felt deeply distressed. The group later contacted Massive Attack, asking them not to repeat such actions in future shows. A Growing Movement in Music Despite mounting pressure, the syndicate formed by Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Kneecap, and others reflects a growing movement within the music industry to stand up for free speech and human rights. They hope to shield vulnerable voices and ensure that artistic expression is not silenced by political intimidation. As tensions around the Gaza conflict remain high, this collective is determined to make sure that artists can speak out — without fear.