Recent Visit of the Irish Prime Minister
On his knees, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mikel Martin, returned from his recent visit to the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Praise for the Irish-American Alliance
During a meeting in the Oval Office at the beginning of this month, Martin expressed warm appreciation for the Irish-American alliance and the historical bonds between the two nations. He also highlighted Trump’s role as a peacekeeper, according to Al Jazeera.
Martin commended Trump for his handling of Gaza and the recent peace negotiations, even though Irish parties, including Sinn Fein, announced they would boycott the St. Patrick’s Day events in Washington this week. When Trump was questioned about the boycott, Martin suggested, “pay tribute to the president in peaceful initiatives” in various matters.
Participants in Kneecap, including DJ Próvaí and Mógleaí Bap, who have been vocal supporters of Palestine, voiced their frustration following his remarks.
“Just like the Irish, our duty is to stand united, show solidarity, and put pressure on the politicians in Ireland,” Bap stated in an interview with JOE.
“Damn the likes of Mikel Martin, going to Donald Trump, licking his boots and laughing at his pathetic jokes. We need to ensure they feel shame and embarrassment, making it clear they are on the wrong side of history.”
He continued, “Sometimes it can feel discouraging, but we have the power to pressure folks like Mikel Martin, who want to travel to America and beg for money. What we can do is keep the pressure on and talk about Palestine – that’s our best course of action right now.”
Rights added, “He is scum. He embodies the worst. His rhetoric is so Blaz, and he doesn’t challenge it because everyone is scared to. He treats this like a game, but it’s not. Lives of millions are at stake.”
After their film was omitted from the Oscar nominations in January, despite being on a lengthy list, the group responded on Twitter: “Oscar? Forget it. Free Palestine.”
Their response was part of their reaction to the news regarding the ceasefire in Gaza on January 16, where they stated: “We must not forget what Israel did.”
In their cover for NME last year, they took a firm stance against what they term the “occupation and genocide” of Israel in Gaza. They raised nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the AIDA refugee camp in Palestine, forcefully broadcasting their message through social media and high-profile performances.
Meanwhile, the group made headlines for unveiling a “huge” statue of King George V during their show in Melbourne, which was later destroyed earlier this month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMPF5CAOFM8
The statue of King George V was beheaded and splattered with red paint during a celebration of King Charles’s birthday in June 2024. This incident was part of a broader pattern of attacks on colonial monuments in Victoria.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/kneecap-slam-lick-arse-and-scumbag-irish-leader-over-white-house-visit-he-thinks-its-a-big-game-3847965?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kneecap-slam-lick-arse-and-scumbag-irish-leader-over-white-house-visit-he-thinks-its-a-big-game
