Fan told to ‘bin Palestinian t-shirt’ at Fontaines D.C. show

2025-01-07 06:53:30

Fans flocked to see
Fontaines D.C.
perform at their biggest-ever gig but were reportedly shocked to be confronted by security over
Palestinian
flags and clothing.

One fan, of the 45,000-strong crowd, claimed he was asked to remove his Palestinian football top and ‘put it in the bin’ before entering London’s Finsbury Park.

Fontaines D.C. have been
vocal in their pro-Palestine stance,
alongside their support acts from Saturday’s gig such as Amyl and the Sniffers and
Kneecap
.

Kneecap’s political statements
led to the Prime Minister attempting to
have them removed
from the
Glastonbury
lineup and the arrest of Mo Chara.

For months, fans have been bringing flags and other red, black and green clothing to Fontaines D.C. gigs to show their support for the Free Palestine movement.

However — in the wake of
protest group Palestine Action
being proscribed as
a terrorist organisation
by the government — security at the concert were reportedly confiscating these items.

‘I was on the way into the Fontaines D.C. concert today in Finsbury Park and I was stopped three times by security saying this top was a political statement and that I was not allowed in,’ shared Velvetshaggy on TikTok.

He was wearing a Palestinian football top, with the country’s name written in Arabic on the front.

The gig-goer claimed that if he had been wearing an Irish or English football shirt, ‘they would have allowed it in’.

He continued: ‘At one point, they literally told me that I had to put it in the bin. I took my t-shirt off and was told “you have to put it in the bin or you’re not allowed in”.

‘Obviously, I didn’t do that. I said “I’m not gonna do that”. They were like “Do you know what it means?” They asked me to translate and I told them what it said.’

He claimed the guards sent messages back and forth before eventually granting him entry, with his shirt still on.

‘This is happening at a music festival that is known for being political,’ the music fan added. ‘We’ve got Kneecap and Fontaines D.C. speaking today, and I [almost] wasn’t allowed in with a literal football jersey of Palestine.’

Fans pointed out that Fontaines D.C. themselves sold a football jersey that featured a Palestinian flag with ‘free Palestine’ written in Irish, with proceeds going to Medical Aid in the country.

Other fans shared their experiences in the comments, with one woman saying she hid her Kneecap merchandise out of fear of confiscation.

‘I had an Irish balaclava, the same one made for dj provai, and I got told by a nice lady before I went through security that I couldn’t take it in so to put it somewhere,’ said thiccccmami. ‘I managed to smuggle it in my bra it’s literally Kneecap’s merch.’

‘My friend got told when they were searching her bag that they were specifically looking for Palestine flags over anything else,’ added 365.partygirlx.

‘They were confiscating Palestine flags!!!! And told me I couldn’t wear my “don’t attack Iran badge”!!! Insanity,’ wrote rosieee4.

However, it appears some people did get through security with their Palestinian clothing and flags.

One commenter, bodakgypsc, claimed to have ‘worked at the gig’ and said: ‘70% of people were wearing this exact shirt and loads of people had Palestine flags.’

‘There was so much Palestine stuff at the gig today,’ added harveyraoul. ‘Who did they think was performing?! Disgrace.’

Fontaines D.C. also showed a ‘Free Palestine’ message on the screen and fans could be seen waving flags in the crowd on grainy livestreams.

During the gig, ever-political Kneecap came out in front of a screen that read: ‘
Israel
is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.’

Taking aim at
Sir Keir Starmer,
they said: ‘You know what’s “not appropriate” Keir?! Arming a genocide… [sic]’.

Throughout the night, various chants of ‘Free, free Palestine’ broke out in the crowd, encouraged by the artists.

Also performing were Amyl and The Sniffers, who previously put out a statement defending Bob Vylan after their Glastonbury performance.

The group wrote: ‘The British media in a frenzy about Bob Vylan and Kneecap but artists all weekend at Glastonbury from pop to rock to rap to punk to DJs spoke up onstage and there were toned of flags on every streamed set.

‘Trying to make it look like just a couple of isolated incidents and a couple of “bad bands” so it appears the public isn’t as anti-genocide as it is, and trying to make it look like Bob and Kneecap are one-offs, instead of that the status quo has shifted majorly and that people are concerned and desperate for our governments to listen.’

pinare.onlinehas reached out to Fontaines D.C. and Festival Republic for comment.

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