By Liam de Brun
Bob Vylan have claimed that they鈥檙e being 鈥榯argeted for speaking up鈥 after a police investigation was launched into comments the band made at Glastonbury. The punk rap duo made headlines after they led chants of 鈥榙eath, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) during a livestreamed performance on Saturday afternoon (June 28). The BBC have since apologised after the set at the West Holts Stage was livestreamed, saying on Monday (June 30) the chants had 鈥榓ntisemitic sentiments鈥 and were 鈥榰nacceptable鈥. The group was formed in Ipswich in 2017, and are known for addressing political issues in their albums and live performances, including racism, masculinity and class. Avon and Somerset Police said on Monday it had launched a probe into the performance after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead the investigation. Bobby Vylan is the stage name of Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports, while his bandmate drummer uses the alias Bobbie Vylan. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the group released a statement captioned ‘Silence is not an option鈥 as they addressed the investigation. The statement read: 鈥淭oday, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. 鈥淟ast week it was a Palestine pressure group. The week before that it was another band. We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. 鈥淲e are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid.鈥 The statement continued: 鈥淎 machine that has destroyed much of Gaza. We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. 鈥淲e are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. The Government doesn鈥檛 want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren鈥檛 doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving? 鈥淭he more time they talk about Bob Vylan the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction. We are being targeted for speaking up. 鈥淲e are not the first, we will not be the last, and if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too.鈥