The State Department on Monday announced it has banned an English rapper and his rap punk duo from performing in the United States after they appeared to lead a crowd in chants supporting besieged Gaza residents and wishing “death” upon Israeli forces, officials said.
Visas for Bob Vylan and his group of the same name were revoked “in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants,” State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau said in a statement.
According to videos shared on social media, the rapper led Glastonbury Festival crowds on Saturday in chants of “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF,” Israel Defense Forces.
“Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau added.
Bob Vylan is scheduled to kick off a U.S. tour on Oct. 24 in Spokane, Washington, with gigs to come in 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.