Glastonbury Festival, one of the world's most iconic music events, is currently underway in England. This year, like many cultural events worldwide, it's not just the music making headlines—pro-Palestinian protests have found a stage here as well. From festival-goers waving Palestinian flags to artists advocating for Palestinian liberation, the political undertones are undeniable.
The festival kicked off last Wednesday, and soon after, social media was flooded with images of music lovers waving Palestinian flags. The pro-Palestinian sentiment was also evident on stage during several acts:
Kneecap, the Irish rap group known for its vocal opposition to Israel, took the stage with powerful slides reading, "More than 20,000 children have been killed by Israel in nine months," "The British government allows this," and "Free Palestine."
Idles, a British rock band, shared their stance when the lead singer shouted "Viva Palestina" during a break in their performance, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
Charlotte Church, a Welsh singer, led the audience in chanting "Free Palestine" while donning a keffiyeh. She previously faced threats for her participation in a pro-Palestine march, requiring police intervention for her safety.
Damon Albarn, frontman of Blur and Gorillaz, made a guest appearance with indie band Bombay Bicycle Club and addressed the audience with politically charged questions about Palestine and the fairness of the ongoing conflict. He also commented on the political landscapes in the UK and the US, questioning the leadership of the elderly.
On the other hand, Coldplay took a more universal approach, asking the crowd to send love "to whoever they want," be it to Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, or Russia. This call for unity was highlighted by frontman Chris Martin's inclusive message.
Dua Lipa, one of this year's headliners, continued to show her support for Palestinians, performing near a giant Palestinian flag with the message "Glastonbury for Palestine." Last month, she condemned the ongoing conflict in Gaza to her 80 million Instagram followers, emphasizing the global effort to stop what she described as genocide by Israel.
Despite the political messages, the festival also saw flags from Nova Festival with the message "We will dance again," although these did not garner significant attention.
Social Media Backlash
The political nature of the festival sparked criticism on social media. Many attendees and online users were upset by what they perceived as one-sidedness, especially considering the massacre by Hamas at the Nova music festival on October 7. Comments ranged from questioning the support for the Palestinian flag to outright calls for boycotting Glastonbury.
Despite the controversy, Glastonbury Festival remains a cornerstone of global music culture, attracting 200,000 attendees since its inception in 1970. This year's festival featured headliners like Coldplay, who delivered an emotional performance with Michael J. Fox, alongside other big names like Cyndi Lauper, LCD Soundsystem, SZA, PJ Harvey, and many more.
Glastonbury 2024 has become a crossroads of music and political expression, reflecting the complex global discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the music plays on, the festival's political undertones continue to spark debate and reflection among its massive audience.