Fate of Kneecap gig raised at Belfast City Council: 'This is not about orange and green - it is about right and wrong'
The behaviour of Kneecap has been condemned by Belfast councillors at a meeting tonight, whilst one said the group is the victim of a “witch-hunt”.
The Belfast City Council representatives were debating the recent controversy surrounding the republican rap group, in the context of an upcoming 40,000-ticket gig at the council-owned Boucher Playing Fields this summer.
The furore arises from footage – which is under investigation by counter-terror police – of a band member telling a crowd “the only good Tory is a dead Tory; kill your local MP” at a gig, and depicting member Mo Chara clad in the flag of Hezbollah telling a crowd “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
The group has since said it does not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and rejected “any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual”.
The matter was raised for debate by DUP councillor Ruth Brooks who put forward a motion calling on the council to “condemn the divisive, sectarian, and hate-filled words of Kneecap” – referring to the remarks above.
This was “not legitimate artistic expression but the use of political shock tactics masquerading as art to incite division and hatred”.
After putting the motion, she added that the group’s behaviour was “a breach of the standards set” in the council’s agreement with the gig promoter, and added that she wanted a special meeting to be convened to discuss the issue once legal advice has been obtained about the upcoming gig.
Sinn Fein councillor Tomas O Neill then rose to give a speech – which was entirely in Irish. An English translation was requested, but refused.
Alliance councillor Tara Brooks said: “I love rap music, and part of the power of rap music is it is quite often transgressive and it pushes boundaries and it can shake us out of our complacency.
"But all artists and public figures have to take responsibility for what they say publicly, and I think Kneecap have crossed a line here.
"There’s no place for glorifying the terrorists who perpetrated the horrific 7th of October attacks in Israel, or for calling for violence on politicians.”
But she added this is “distracting” from the main issue: “the shocking violence being committed against civilians in Gaza”.
TUV councillor Ron McDowell said: “The militancy of the republican movement has an awful lot to answer [for] in how we impress on the youth of today what we want tomorrow to look like.”
People Before Profit councillor Michael Collins said that the “kill your local MP” comment had been an “off-hand” one, accusing the group’s critics of “faux outrage”. Kneecap, he said, are victims of a “witch-hunt”.
Sinn Fein councillor, and erstwhile mayor, Ryan Murphy said “Kneecap have clarified their position and they’ve apologised”. He too said “the real crux” of the issue is the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, adding: “We won’t be supporting any calls within this council that would attempt to censor those who speak out against that injustice.”
DUP councillor Dean McCullough said: “Let me be absolutely clear: Kneecap, as much as I disagree with them, as much as I disagree with their views on Gaza and the Middle East, I will defend their right not only to hold those views but to express those views – when those views are legitimate and within the parameters of the law.”
However “what we will not accept” he added were “alleged comments to kill your MP”. He said if any loyalist band had led such a chant, he and his party would condemn it.
At one point his colleague (and group leader) Sarah Bunting said: “It’s not about green and orange – it’s about right and wrong, and whether we as a council have taken seriously our duty to protect the integrity and safety of our civic spaces.”
When it came down to a vote, 31 councillors voted against Ruth Brooks’ motion, while only 26 voted for.
Instead, the chamber voted in favour (by 41 votes to 15) of a motion from SDLP man Seamas de Faoite which said Belfast City Council “condemns sectarianism in all its forms”, “condemns all threats and acts of violence against political elected representatives”, “rejects support for proscribed organisations promoting violence or hate”, and “believes no-one should be prevented from speaking out in defence of human rights or against human rights abuses related to the ongoing genocide in Gaza”.