Kneecap<\/a> have shared a defiant message ahead of band member Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh\u2019s first appearance in court<\/a> on a terror charge.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The three-piece first found themselves <\/span>at the centre of international scrutiny <\/span><\/a>back in April, due to impassioned comments they made in support of Palestine during their set at <\/span>Coachella<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n During their set, the band projected messages like \u201cfuck Israel, free Palestine\u201d onto the screens behind them, and led fans in a chant of \u201cfree Palestine\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the days that followed, <\/span>it was first reported<\/span><\/a> that counter-terrorism police officers were assessing a video in which the group reportedly declared \u201cup Hamas, up Hezbollah\u201d during a gig in London in November 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It was later confirmed<\/a> that \u00d3 hAnnaidh \u2013 better known to fans as Mo Chara \u2013 had been charged with a terror offence, for which he is due to appear in court on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ahead of his first London court appearance, his bandmates put up billboards around the UK capital with the message: \u201cMore Blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This is a parody of <\/span>the offensive \u201cno Irish, no Blacks, no dogs\u201d slogan<\/span><\/a> utilised in notices by some boarding houses in the 1950s.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Posting footage of the billboards on Instagram, Kneecap wrote: \u201cWe\u2019ve plastered London with a few messages ahead of this witch-hunt.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBritish courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with \u2018terrorism\u2019 for crimes never committed. We will fight them. We will win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kneecap previously said<\/a>: \u201cWe deny this \u2018offence\u2019 and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAs they profit from genocide, they use an \u2018anti-terror law\u2019 against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their \u2018crown court\u2019, instead a court that doesn\u2019t have a jury.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cInstead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n They concluded: \u201cWe stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine.\u201d<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kneecap previously claimed that they were the victims of a \u201ccoordinated smear campaign\u201d<\/span><\/a>, in light of their performance at Coachella.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cLet us be unequivocal,\u201d they insisted. \u201cWe do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The group is currently gearing up for a performance at Glastonbury<\/a> next week, where they\u2019re due to appear on the West Holts stage on Saturday 28 June.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Naoise](\"https:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/68526ebe1900003b492476ac.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale&format=webp\"\/)
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