Hundreds gathered outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning to demand that the terror charges against Kneecap member Mo Chara be dropped.

At 9am on Wednesday, 20 August, hundreds gathered in Westminster to show support for Kneecap rapper Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – and to call for an end to government complicity in the genocide in Gaza. Draped in Palestinian or Irish flags and keffiyeh scarves, the crowd led chants of ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Free Mo Chara’ while speakers and musicians took to a makeshift stage to speak about the genocide or play traditional Irish music. 

The demonstration was organised by several groups, including Love Music Hate Racism and The London Irish Brigade, and called for the terror charges against Kneecap’s Mo Chara to be dropped. The Irish language rapper is accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage at a gig last November. The trial has become a potent symbol of attacks on free speech and the right to peaceful protest in the UK. It follows the proscription of Palestine Action as a banned terrorist group and the arrests of more than 400 peaceful protestors at a London demo earlier this month. Irish novelist Sally Rooney recently pledged to direct proceeds from her work to Palestine Action, and could be arrested under the Terrorism Act for doing so.

In this context, Wednesday’s protest felt all the more defiant and vital. Mo Chara eventually left the court just after 1pm when the trial was adjourned after three hours. No verdict was reached, and he will return to court on Friday, 26 September. Upon leaving the court, the Kneecap rapper made a short speech. “Obviously, it’s great to see the support out here,” he told the crowd. “We know that this story is more than just about me. It’s more than a story about Kneecap. This is a story about Palestine. This is just a distraction from the real story. Unfortunately, this story will end up in the media today while Israel commits genocide at the same time. So, everybody, continue speaking out about Palestine. Free Palestine. Thank you all and tiocfaidh ár lá.” 

Photographer Glauco Canalis was on the ground to photograph what went down outside the court yesterday. We spoke to protestors about why they were there, their thoughts on Kneecap, and the UK government’s response.

Pierce, 29 & E, 32

Why are you here today?

P: To show solidarity with fellow musicians and defend free speech.

E: To stand up against the repression of Irish voices by the British state.

What do you think of Kneecap’s response to the genocide in Palestine?

P: It’s empowering to see how the messaging of their gigs is so clear and concise. It’s not a nuanced thing. Not to discredit other artists – my band, Gurriers, being in a similar position. We say ‘Free Palestine’ during our gigs, but we don’t necessarily go into the details of who’s arming and who’s enabling it. For Kneecap to bring that to the next level and to encourage their audience to really consider these things, I think it’s amazing. I think they’re really leading the charge in terms of showing that, if you have a platform, and you really are steadfast in your beliefs, then you should be using it for good.

E: For them to risk their freedom for such an important cause inspires so many people, me included. It means that I feel more enlightened and feel the power to do stuff myself because I know that we’re in this together. If they’re willing to risk their freedom, I should be stepping up and doing more myself. 

Sidra, 30

What brought you here today?

I think it’s important because there’s been such a clampdown on free speech. There’s been a crackdown on diasporic communities, minorities, Irish people, brown people, Black people. People like us who are speaking out against genocide and occupation and apartheid are getting labelled as terrorists or sympathisers of terrorists, which is not the case at all, especially when you’ve got people harassing refugees and asylum seekers and burning down hotels. 

What do you think of Kneecap’s response to the genocide in Palestine?

I think all artists should be doing what they’re doing. If more people did it, they wouldn’t be able to single out bands and people who are speaking out against it.

What do you think of the government’s response to Kneecap, such as calling for them to be removed from festival line-ups?

I can’t understand how, in the UK, they can be like, ‘No, you can’t have this type of music’. Punk was born here. How can you say you can’t say something in your music? 

What would you say to the judge today?

Drop the charges. Drop it all, man. It’s not worth it. 

Tabby, Health Workers and Allies for Palestine

Why are you here today?

I’m here today to support Mo Chara, who is facing state repression. It’s an infringement on his human rights, of freedom of expression and freedom of speech. The misuse and abuse of terrorism laws is now widely being used because it has loose definitions. It is being used for a political agenda, and that agenda is to continue support to Israel to facilitate ethnic cleansing. The UK government are in fact the terrorists supporting terrorism, supporting genocide and participating in genocide. 

What do you think of the UK government’s response to Kneecap?

Kneecap have done their moral duty to speak out against genocide. Because artists like Kneecap and Bob Vylan have got platforms with followings and are able to reach huge reaches of the public and the youth, the UK government are trying to suppress this. They want to silence anybody who is opposing their agenda. We saw them do this to Jeremy Corbyn and we’re seeing them now do this to Kneecap. They’re trying to repress anybody who has any shred of moral dignity. Groups like Kneecap deserve our support. We need to rally behind them because criminalising them is criminalising us. They come after one, they come after all of our human rights.

What message would you give to the judge today?

Please do what you came into your role to do, and that is be the judicial power to stand for justice. Stand with justice. Don’t stand with genocide. Stand with human rights. Don’t stand with repression and misuse and abuse of the law. You are there to uphold the law and restore order. Put the faith back into the British public that the justice system still works and, in doing so, you will be absolving the complicity of many people who feel that they have unjustly been convicted and criminalised. You will be restoring faith, so please restore faith in humanity. Restore faith in the justice system. Restore faith in the British public that democracy can still exist.

Aoife, 32

What brought you here today?

I’m Irish and I used to go to protests all the time when I was younger. I think this is a really important thing to protest. I think it’s quite dangerous what the government are trying to do, trying to silence free speech when there’s a genocide going on.

What do you think of Kneecap’s response to the genocide in Palestine?

I think it’s very typically Irish. Growing up like that, it’s part of our blood. If you see something wrong, you say it. I do think it’s a natural response, and I think it’s an unnatural response from the government to try to shut it down.

What do you think other musicians could be doing to show their support for the Palestinian people?

Take Kneecap as an example. Don’t be scared of the cancellations because, at the end of the day, you want to be on the right side of history. I think we have a moral responsibility as people to respond to it. I think the silence is a bit concerning from artists.

What message would you give to the judge today?

Wise the fuck up, babe. What yous playing at? This is embarrassing, and you’re drawing more attention to the genocide that yous are enabling, so he obviously needs his charges dropped and for this to be thrown out as a very embarrassing part of their history.

Lucy, 57 & Peggy, 12

What brought you here today?

With everything that’s happening at the moment, we need to show support all the time. We come to the Palestine marches all the time. We come down from Wales as often as we can. We’re so afraid of everything that’s happening at the moment. You have to show up and make your voice heard.

What do you think of Kneecap’s response to the genocide in Palestine?

I think they’re brave to raise their voices at a time when often your careers are over as soon as you do.

What message would you give to the judge today?

Free Mo Chara.

Michaela, 27

What brought you here today?

I think what’s happening in Palestine at the moment is horrendous. Mothers are giving birth in the hallways of hospitals that are getting bombed. That shouldn’t be happening. That’s fucked. We’ve got people like Kneecap who are speaking out about it and then being prosecuted.

What would you like to see from other musicians and artists with big platforms?

At some of these tours that are going around the world, you’re paying £250 for a standing ticket. These musicians should be making donations to the cause. They’ve got these platforms of millions and millions of people on Instagram, on TikTok, and what? They’re showing their beauty products. Who is that helping? Sure, I know what eyeliner to use next time I go out, but there are people that are dying, that are being starved, that are being bombed every second of the day at the moment, and they’re not using their platform for something. Why?

What message would you give to the judge today?

Do the right thing. The fact that we’re even here today for Palestine and to defend Mo Chara is wild. This trial is a waste of taxpayer money and everyone’s time. 

Ruby, 22 & Claire, 50 

What do you think of Kneecap’s response to the genocide in Palestine?

C: They’re saying what everyone wants to say. Nobody agrees with what’s going on. Kneecap have got the balls to say it on stage and everywhere.

What do you think of the UK government’s response to Kneecap, such as calling for them to be removed from festival line-ups?

R: It’s so authoritarian. As soon as you start getting rid of people’s right to free speech, it’s a bad idea.

C: They’ll just start their own festivals and we’ll go to them. This will happen all the time. Their supporters aren’t gonna go away.

What would you like to see from other musicians and artists with big platforms?

C: More, but most of them are scared to say anything because they want to keep earning money. Kneecap have got everyone going and ignited something. People of all ages. There was a guy of 94 down there earlier. They’re just saying what everyone wants to say.

What message would you give to the judge today?

C: Maybe get some Irish lessons so you don’t need an interpreter.

R: Don’t expect Irish people to be silent when there’s people going through the same genocide that they faced at the hands of the British. 

Alwin, 36

What brought you here?

Those guys are one of the few who stand up for what’s right and say all the right things, and they’re being persecuted for it. It’s the least I could do to come down and show a little bit of support.

What would you like to see from other musicians and artists with big platforms?

There should definitely be much more. Maybe they’re trying to save face and feel like it might be too political to get involved, but they should be getting more involved.

What would you say to the judge today?

These guys are innocent. They’re standing up for what’s right. It’s absolute nonsense. This trial is a waste of time.