"So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal." JFK, June 10, 1963.
"I was raised to believe that we defeated fascism in World War II and that we would never allow it again in the world. I don't always state publicly my political opinions, and like anyone I don't always know all of the facts, but when it comes to this man and this administration I'm not going to be like one of the silent minority of 1930's Germany. This man is a danger to not just America but the entire world and that's not an exaggeration, he's dismantling democracy and endangering the planet on a daily basis, and we. all. know. it." JW III...
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt
Kneecap at Westminster Magistrates Court, June 18, 2025
On July 5, 2025, the UK declared the British direct action group Palestine Action to be a proscribed terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000, meaning it was illegal to be a member or publicly support Palestine Action. The group had broken into a British Air Force base and spray-painted two Airbuses to protest British military support for Israel. At the same time, two other groups were proscribed, Maniacs Murder Cult, and the Russian Imperial Movement, both of which are transnational, white supremacist, neo-Nazi, ethno-nationalist organisations with roots in the former Soviet Union.
The UK’s Terrorism Act 2000 came to the forefront recently when British authorities charged a member of the bilingual Irish group Kneecap (from Belfast) with terrorism offenses for voicing support for the banned terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah while displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage at a show in London on November 21, 2024, as seen in this video:
Hamas and Hezbollah have been on the UK list of proscribed groups for some time. Kneecap have been speaking about “Free Palestine” at their shows for some time. The only time I am aware of that they have been accused of publicly supporting Hamas and Hezbollah is at the November 21, 2024 show, as documented in the YouTube video. That is the only occasion they are being charged for. Subsequently, Kneecap issued a statement that they did NOT support Hamas or Hezbollah and condemned attacks on civilians. Since then, they have portrayed the prosecution as another attempt by the British Establishment to silence a pesky Irish critic and attack those who support Palestinian rights. They have also been criticized, and threatened with prosecution, for a show at which they declared that “the only good Tory was a dead Tory” and “Kill your local MP!” ( “Member of Parliament", that is). Subsequently, Kneecap apologized the families of two British MPs who were killed by extremists.
One of Kneecap’s rappers, Mo Chara, is the one specifically facing terrorism charges. He has a court date in August 2025. Reviewing the video, it appears Mo Chara is “guilty as charged” of violating the Terrorism Act 2000 by saying “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah” on stage, with a yellow Hezbollah flag (also proscribed) draped around his neck which he then unfurled and displayed to the crowd.
There is a world of difference between saying “Free Palestine!” while displaying a red, black, green, and white Palestinian flag, and saying “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” while displaying a yellow Hezbollah flag. The former is legal in the UK, while the later is illegal in the UK. Whether of not the law is correct or not is another question. However, the way the law is written, it appears that Mo Chara violated it. There have been demonstrations and declarations of support for him, and that may influence the courts, but it is likely he will be found guilty. The penalty is to be determined.
There is no indication that Mo Chara intended to challenge the legitimacy of Hamas and Hezbollah being proscribed in The UK by his actions on November 21, 2024, nor have I heard mention of such a challenge being launched in conjunction with defending him against the current charges.
The fact is, I believe Hamas and Hezbollah should be proscribed. I’m going to go ahead and say that Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement also belong on that list.
But Palestine Action does not.
To have Palestine Action on the same proscribed list as Hamas, Hezbollah, Maniacs Murder Cult, and the Russian Imperial Movement makes such a list meaningless.
Hamas, Hezbollah, Maniacs Murder Cult, and the Russian Imperial Movement have all targeted civilians for lethal attacks, which is a crime against humanity and illegal according to the rules of war. Palestine Action has targeted property for vandalism as a largely symbolic protest.
Property is not sacred. People are sacred. Property does not have the same rights as People do. Property can be replaced. Every loss of human life, especially among civilians, is tragic.
The path of peace is always the best path, but those who chose the path of the warrior must commit to avoiding civilian casualties at all costs and only targeting legitimate military targets.
I’ve noticed several articles online that speak of Mo Chara “allegedly” displaying the Hezbollah flag. There is no “allegedly” about it. The video clearly shows he is wearing the yellow Hezbollah flag around his neck, then unfurls it and displays it to the crowd while saying, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!”
I don’t think anyone is claiming that the video is “fake”. So he is guilty insofar as he did do what is alleged in the criminal complaint.
Whether that should be illegal or not is another question, as is the appropriate penalty for the offense.
Kneecap posted extensively on Instagram and elsewhere about the case during the Summer of 2025, including a notice that they would not be prosecuted for their performance at Glastonbury:
Authorities had considered charging them for seeming to encourage a “riot” outside their next court appearance, followed quickly by "No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine."
What Mo Chara has said is that he is playing a character on stage and I think we have to acknowledge that hyperbolic language is quite common in show business. We shouldn’t expect artists to be experts on politics and other topics, but we expect them to be honest and responsible.
Words matter, wishing someone harm, calling for violence should be prohibited, as well as spreading false information, for example about COVID, which could cause harm. People need to be protected from false, harmful information, as many lack the education, critical thinking skills, cultural literacy, and internet literacy to make informed decisions. Mass media, especially when they use photos and videos, make a deep impression on our memories. We are inclined to believe it, even if there is no independent verification.
Kneecap has claimed that “someone threw the (Hezbollah) flag on stage” or handed it to them as they went on stage. Assuming that is true, it seems they had no plan to violate the Terrorism Act. They may not have known that the Hezbollah flag or expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah was illegal.
This is nothing compared to the genocide.
October 7, 2023.
WORK IN PROGRESS: TO BE CONTINUED
Subscribe ($20) to ThisSmallPlanet.com at Venmo @thissmallplanet
I live in a car and listen to music and world news. I would write more if I had a home.
NOTES:
Parliament: 385 votes to 26
8647
Bob Vylan
Jeremy Clarkson “double standard” Lucy Connolly and Bob Vylan.
“Death To…”, “From The River To The Sea”, “Globalize The Intifada”.
Where do you draw the line? Who draws the line? What is the penalty? Public condemnation? Organized Boycott? Civil lawsuit? Criminal charges?
Can vandalism against Teslas be reasonably considered “terrorism”?
A woman who admitted inciting racial hatred after using social media to post about setting fire to hotels housing asylum seekers following the Southport stabbings has been jailed for two years and seven months.
Lucy Connolly, 41, posted on X, formerly Twitter, just hours after the killings, having encountered false information online which said the killer had been a Muslim asylum seeker who had come to the country on a boat.
In her now deleted X post from 29 July, she called for mass deportation and to set fire to hotels housing immigrants. She added: “If that makes me racist, so be it.”
The post was also shared by 26-year-old father-of-three Tyler Kay who was sentenced last month to 38 months after admitting publishing material intended to stir up racial hatred.
Connolly was interviewed by police on 6 August and admitted writing the inflammatory post. She was charged three days later on 9 August.
She previously pleaded guilty to one count of inciting racial hatred, and was sentenced to 31 months' imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court today.
Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Using threatening, abusive or insulting language to rile up racism online is unacceptable and is breaking the law.
“During police interview Lucy Connolly stated she had strong views on immigration, told officers she did not like illegal immigrants and claimed that children were not safe from them. It is not an offence to have strong or differing political views, but it is an offence to incite racial hatred – and that is what Connolly has admitted doing.
TYLER KAY WENT TO PRISON AND LOST HIS HOUSE FOR COPYING A POST ON X Tyler was sentenced to 38 months in prison for copying a post made on X by Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councilor. The post read: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f*king hotels full of the ba*ards for all I care…If that makes me a racist, so be it.” Lucy had been arrested for the post, and Tyler was trying to prove that he wouldn’t be arrested. He made this clear in a reply to his post, stating: “My point is more, it’s one rule for some and another rule for others.” Despite his barrister explaining he was immature, had grown up in care, and would lose his council house as a result of a prison sentence, the judge said he “clearly intended to incite serious violence.” He then sent Tyler, a father of 3, to prison for 3 years and 2 months. Sources: Northampton Chronicle, Independent
