20,000 Chant 'Free Palestine' at London Festival Amidst Terrorism Charges Against Irish Rap Group

London's Wide Awake Festival witnessed a powerful display of solidarity for Palestine on May 23, 2025, as Irish rap trio Kneecap led 20,000 concertgoers in chants of "Free Palestine." This event underscores the ongoing global debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The demonstration took place amidst controversy surrounding Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who is facing terrorism charges in the UK for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert last November. In a statement, Kneecap asserted, "We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction." The band's performance and the crowd's reaction highlight the deep-seated emotions and global engagement surrounding the issue. The incident at the Wide Awake Festival, coupled with the legal challenges faced by the band, is likely to fuel further discussion and debate.