Senator Ted Cruz has criticized crowds at Glastonbury Festival for chanting “Death to the IDF” during one of the performances.
Festivalgoers at the British music event were led in the chant, referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during rap duo Bob Vylan’s set. Cruz posted a segment of the set to X, formerly Twitter, saying: “This is the base of the Democrat Party.”
He said in a follow-up post that he realized the video was filmed in England, adding: “They are the very same antisemitic zealots as the American anti-Israel Left—to whom the Democrat Party is utterly beholden.”
Bob Vylan and the DNC have been contacted via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Glastonbury Festival’s organizers had already faced criticism for allowing Irish-language rap group Kneecap to perform, after one of its members was charged under the U.K.’s Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London in November.
Although the festival has said people are free to express their political beliefs at the event, organizer Emily Eavis spoke out against the “Death to the IDF” chant, saying it “very much crossed a line.”
It is unclear how many, if any, crowd members at the event in Somerset, South West England, are supporters of the Democratic Party. The party and its leadership have been supportive of Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
What To Know
Nearly 4,000 acts perform at Glastonbury to approximately 200,000 festivalgoers over a five-day stretch.
Bob Vylan’s set was not the only one to involve messaging around the war in Gaza. The BBC did not provide a livestream for Kneecap’s performance as member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is currently on bail under the terrorism charges.
Eavis posted a statement to social media about the chants at the Bob Vylan set, saying: “As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism – we will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace and love.”
Senator Cruz’s comments about “antisemitic zealots” allegedly forming the base of the Democratic Party come just days after pro-Palestinian candidate Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary to be mayor of New York.
Mamdani’s advocacy for Palestinians has been labeled antisemitic by some, including Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League.
Other Jewish politicians and New Yorkers have pointed to Mamdani’s pledge to increase anti-hate crime spending in the city, including funds to protect synagogues and Jewish schools.
Brad Lander, a Jewish New Yorker and fellow candidate for mayor, cross-endorsed Mamdani, telling a crowd on primary night: “Our safety, our hopes and our freedoms are bound up together, don’t get it twisted.”
Nationwide, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris received 79 percent of the Jewish vote in the 2024 election.
What People Are Saying
Senator Ted Cruz, on X: “Truly sick. Thousands of people screaming “Death to the IDF. This is the base of the Democrat Party.”
“Lots of comments saying this is in England. True. These are the looney British anti-Israel Left. They are the very same antisemitic zealots as the American anti-Israel Left—to whom the Democrat Party is utterly beholden.”
Glastonbury Festival organizer Emily Eavis on Instagram: “We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
What Happens Next
Avon and Somerset police are investigating the Bob Vylan incident to see if a criminal offense was committed.
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