Darkside Member Accuses Genocide in Palestine and Plans Protest at Coachella 2025

Nicholas Jaar and Darkside’s Set at Coachella 2025

Nicholas Jaar, of the group Darkside, utilized his performances at Coachella 2025 to vocalize support for Palestine and highlight urgent political issues.

• Read more: Darkside – “spiral” review: a magnificent, cinematic recording that rewards each back

The trio took the stage during both weekends of the festival in California, and for the second weekend, Jaar leveraged his platform in the Gobi tent to bring attention to various political matters.

He began his speech by acknowledging that Southern California is home to numerous indigenous American tribes. He reflected on the tragic history of these communities, who suffered countless losses during the massacres of the 16th through the 19th centuries, drawing parallels to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza.

“Here we are devoted to genocides, which mirror what is happening in Palestine, driven by the same racist logic,” he stated (as reported by Billboard). “We must continue to resist, even from the belly of the beast, because this genocide is funded by American money, using technology from Silicon Valley, thanks to the complicity of all politicians in this country.”

He passionately addressed the harsh realities of detention centers, highlighting the case of Mahmud Khalil—an activist from Columbia University currently imprisoned in an immigration detention center after protesting on campus. He urged attendees to stand against those who “trap people in cells.”

Nicholas Jaar talks about Palestine, genocides that occurred, stating that Coachella is a reflection of what is happening in Palestine, Mahmoud Halil, and all the illegal detentions. #COACHELLA The field is free Palestine pic.twitter.com/czlji3kmz1

– F (@miss_ff) April 13, 2025

Political Commentary During Performances

“Nowadays, some of you can simply protest against the ongoing genocide, but they can deport you just like Mahmoud Khalil,” he conveyed to the audience on April 12.

“This situation is not unlike what many, including Mahmoud and others, face in prisons due to their political beliefs. Profit-driven organizations like CoreCivic and Geo Group benefit from keeping people incarcerated,” he continued. “They profit from keeping individuals behind bars. We must persist in our fight for those stuck without trial and without hope. We must offer hope. Thank you all.”

According to Billboard, the musician echoed similar sentiments during another set the following weekend on April 19.

“We have toured for about a month and a half, and during that time, the government has deported people for their political views,” he stated. “They imprison people based solely on their political content. The prison population in this country remains the highest in the world.”

“In California, now more people are confined than at Coachella, while this nation continues to support the genocide of Palestinian people through weaponry and funding, alongside technology from Silicon Valley used for the apartheid system and ethnic cleansing in Israel.”

“The issue extends beyond this administration; it is intrinsic to a system of racism and ethnic cleansing, both here and abroad. There is no way to proceed on this planet without the fall of these empires soon.”

“There is no way to continue without the fall of the empire. There is no future without earth back,” Nicholas Jaar discusses the deportation crisis and the genocide in Palestine during Darkside’s set at #COACHELLA last week. Always free Palestine pic.twitter.com/nlirfcmi7o

– F (@miss_ff) April 20, 2025

Darkside were not the only artists at Coachella 2025 who leveraged their platform for political expression. The Irish hip-hop trio Klinnik faced backlash from festival organizers after making statements supporting a free Palestine on stage.

During their set, the live stream was abruptly cut off after they voiced their political opinions, particularly regarding anti-Margaret Thatcher sentiments.

“Not only was it cut,” they later remarked about Thatcher’s policies, “but the issues regarding U.S.-supported genocide in Gaza were largely ignored on screens.”

The following weekend, the group provided their own live stream while political commentator Hassan Piker aired their show on Twitch, showcasing slogans like “Fuck ISRAEL, FREE PALESTINE,” with messages about Israel’s actions against Palestinians displayed on screens during their performance.

Additionally, Blonde Redhead concluded their Coachella 2025 set featuring audio from Palestinian activist Mahmud Halil and the Palestinian flag, while Bob Vilan prominently displayed Palestinian flags during his performance. Green Day’s frontman, Billy Joe Armstrong, altered lyrics in their song “Jesus of Suburbia” to bring attention to the conflict, singing, “Run away from pain like children from Palestine,” instead of the original line.

This change prompted David Diregred to challenge Armstrong to consider the “Israeli/Jewish perspective of this tragic war.”

Sharon Osbourne called for a cancellation of the working visa for performers after claiming their appearance at Coachella compromised the festival’s “moral and spiritual integrity.” She argued that, in times of significant global unrest, music should serve as solace rather than a platform for political discourse. Osbourne stated that Green Day would be “better suited to their own concert, rather than at the festival.”