i’ll simply start by saying, or rather, shouting, at the top of my lungs – FREE PALESTINE! not only that but free all humans suffering from all forms of oppression. we all deserve basic human rights, and well, turn on the news and you’ll see the tragedy happening in front of our eyes. obviously, the levels of power and influence nation states like israel, the united states, and the united kingdom makes it seem like we can’t do anything, can’t really change much because our contribution is absolutely tiny towards fighting for freedom. but collectively, change can happen. look at the protests! the one last weekend had a very cathartic energy, but it was the scale of it that was impressive. that compared to the zionist march, it was absolutely hilarious to see. there couldn’t have been more than a hundred zionist supporters cussing us, thousands. protests work, however. and just to put it out there, very peaceful, i met a few people along the way, it was very good vibes all around. another way, of course, is to boycott goods from manufacturers who do business in israel, boycott, divestment and sanctions (bds) are a good organisation to turn to for that. and in general, boycotting everything that has a direct involvement to the genocide happening. the goal is to limit israel’s resources and funds in order to limit their ability to continue killing people, either directly through attacks or indirectly through a blockade of food and first aid supplies coming through to gaza. i just want a world where people can grow up and experience life with freedom, so all of this i feel could be the least we can do, given money is the thing that drives the world and the decisions being made on a daily basis. because we live in a capitalist world that relies on money, cutting all involvement with companies that contribute directly to the genocide currently happening feels to me like the the most effective thing to do. we can continue raising awareness for what’s happening, but a part of me feels like we’re past that, and need to shift our focus to more tangible and direct action that impacts their source of money. and the thing is, given we already have resources available and there is possibility for innovation and new ideas, we shouldn’t have to rely on spaces that are funded by zionist-investing firms, and it’d would be exciting to see new things coming into fruition. this brings me to a particular music-related example.

kkr, an american global private-equity and investment company, last year purchased superstruct entertainment, along with its festivals that include sonar, cross the tracks, lost village, mighty hoopla and field day. kkr, has stakes in weapons manufacturing companies and israeli corporations operating in occupied palestinian territories. that’s direct involvement in the genocide. field day released a statement basically saying that they had no control over the acquisition, and will stay true to their ethos, which is a pro palestine one, but under an ownership that has stakes in manufacturing companies that actively slaughters innocent people. oh yes, that makes sense. most importantly of all, it’s all a choice. while artists participating aren’t directly contributing anything other their art and voice on a stage that will hopefully, at the very least, will be proudly pro-liberation, it would not sit right with me knowing i’m performing at a festival that’s bought by kkr. a few artists including musclecars, midland, kode9 and ben ufo pulled out of their respective festivals, with 15 artists at time of writing not performing at field day anymore. i like that. even if it’s a stance to remove yourself from association, that’s using your voice. and yet, i seen clips of artist and dj’s performing with their palestinian flags and keffiyeh’s at these festivals. aren’t any of you embarrassed? you’re associating yourself, by simply performing, with companies that supply weapons to the israeli army, and you’re in the same breath supporting the palestinian cause? it’s performative, hypocritical, shows an incredible lack of self-awareness, and i see through it. and to the argument that no-one is thinking about the artist and the resources they have available to perform and continue to work – i hear you, but respectfully to all artists who bring this up – this is not about you. this is about the genocide – people’s lives being ripped apart. what resources do our palestinian brothers and sisters have, in comparison to artists living in london? please put things in perspective and take your ego and artist objectives out of the discussion for a second. we can create and work without any links to zionist companies. believe it or not, that is an option. we all have a choice, and rather than everyone making individual decisions, we really should be mobilising and collectively take a stand, because that is so much more powerful and impactful. we need to move in the spirit of togetherness and collective action, not everyone thinking for themselves. it’s not effective and feels very selfish.

but what should we as artists, organisers etc do? i feel like if the organisers of these festivals really cared about the genocide happening, they would step down, or quit as lead organisers at these festivals. i wouldn’t be able to, in good conscience, be a part of a project funded by an investment firm with a stakes in weapons manufacturing companies. so cross the tracks’ statement on standing with palestine and being vehemently against the company that bought them – great, what are you going to do? continue operating and associating yourselves with kkr? be brave, take a stand, step down. i don’t know what percent kkr’s festival portfolio represents out of all of their investments, but if everyone just started to boycott, that would have an effect on their finances, as little of an amount as it may be. start something new. there are opportunities for community-led projects that don’t involve zionist, genocidal companies. perhaps work with the wider community. i have this idea for a people / community-led festival where anyone interested can give a monthly contribution that would help with costs. and give people the choice – do you want to donate £2, £5 or £10 a month for the next 12 / 24 months? be transparent with where that money is going. other than that, focus on building projects with the people, for the people. we can’t continue operating within the frameworks of capitalism and colonial, genocidal control. even if it means less, larger scale creative opportunities, then so be it. if we really cared about the genocide, we would do everything in our power prevent israeli / zionist firms and the zionist project from gaining more money, power and influence. performing at festivals like field day and cross the tracks only helps their cause, no matter how big your palestinian flag or keffiyeh is.

this is a call for collective action. and a reminder, with every decision made, to focus on what the issue actually is – an evil violation of human rights on palestinian soil – and work on ways to dismantle that power and influence in a way that we can, and have control over.

thank you.