State Department Revokes Visas for English Punk Duo Bob Vylan After Glastonbury Performance

The U.S. State Department revoked visas for the English rap punk duo Bob Vylan after their performance at Glastonbury Festival, where they led the crowd in chants referencing Gaza and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Visas for Bob Vylan and associated performers were revoked following the Glastonbury performance, according to a statement from State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau.

During the festival, the rapper led the crowd in chants of "free, free Palestine" and "death, death to the IDF," as seen in videos shared on social media.

"From the river to the sea," Vylan said during the performance, "Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free."

The phrase "river to the sea" refers to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Its usage has increased following the events of October 7, 2023, and subsequent military actions in Gaza.

Some pro-Palestinian activists interpret the phrase as a call for peace in the region, while others consider it hate speech.

A Somerset Police detective has been assigned to review whether any hate crime statutes were violated during the performance.

"We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling," a police department statement said. "There is absolutely no place in society for hate."

The U.S. State Department issued a statement regarding the performance.

"Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," Landau stated.

Bob Vylan was scheduled to begin a U.S. tour on October 24, with performances planned in multiple cities including Spokane, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, San Diego, San Antonio, and Los Angeles.

Venue representatives could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Attempts to contact the artist, Pascal Robinson-Foster, were not immediately successful.

On Sunday, the artist posted a message on social media. He did not directly address the Glastonbury performance but discussed encouraging future generations to advocate for change.

"As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us," he wrote.

"Today it is a change in school dinners, tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy."