What started as a court hearing quickly turned into a full-on show of defiance and support.
Hundreds of passionate fans, activists, and music lovers flooded the streets outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court today as Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh — better known as Mo Chara — appeared over a terrorism charge.
This wasn’t your usual court crowd. With music blaring, banners waving, and protesters chanting, the scene outside was more festival than legal proceeding.
Mo Chara Accused Over Flag at North London Gig
The 27-year-old rapper is being prosecuted for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a Kneecap concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town back in November.
Authorities say the act could be interpreted as support for a banned organisation — which, in the UK, Hezbollah is.
Mo Chara was officially charged with displaying the flag in a way that could lead a “reasonable person” to believe he supports a proscribed group.
The case, which stems from video footage shared online, has sparked heated debate over the boundaries between free expression and promoting extremism.
Kneecap Stand United in Solidarity
Showing they weren’t about to back down, Mo Chara arrived at court flanked by his bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh. All three were dressed in matching “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts, smiling and giving thumbs-up gestures to their crowd of loyal fans.
As they walked into the courthouse, the crowd outside grew louder, some even managing to enter the lobby.
Supporters clutched signs reading things like “Liam’s Too Pretty 4 Prison”, “Defend Kneecap”, and “Stop Arming Israel”, while waving both Palestinian and Irish flags.
Billboard Message Sparks Controversy
Just a day earlier, Kneecap posted a provocative video online showing a billboard that read:
“More blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara.”
This was a deliberate twist on the infamously racist phrase used in 1950s Britain, drawing comparisons between historical discrimination and what the band sees as targeted prosecution today.
One van even circled the court repeating that same message, drawing cheers and chants of “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Fans Travel From Across Europe to Show Support
Supporters came from far and wide — including Austria, Brighton, and Belfast — all wanting to be present for what they felt was a politically charged moment.
Austrian fan Alexandra Kennedy described Kneecap as “important to so many people,” saying a harsh sentence would be more than just a legal loss — it would feel personal to fans who see the band as a voice for Irish identity and resistance.
Victoria Ashworth, a copywriter from Brighton, brought her daughter Lily, 20, along.
Both were adamant that the case was an attack on freedom of speech.
“We just want to be on the right side of history,” Ashworth said.
Free Speech or Dangerous Messaging?
The band’s defenders argue that this case is about silencing political art.
But critics — including law enforcement — claim the stakes are higher.
The Metropolitan Police pointed to social media footage from a separate concert, where members of Kneecap allegedly chanted “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and made threatening comments about MPs.
While the band denies ever supporting terrorist groups, these online moments have kept them under police scrutiny.
Tensions Flare Between Pro-Palestine and Pro-Israel Protesters
Things got especially heated when a lone pro-Israel protester appeared, draped in an Israeli flag.
The crowd turned hostile quickly, with some shouting “Israel is a terrorist state” and demanding the man be escorted out for his own safety.
Police stepped in, surrounded the man, and eventually removed him from the scene.
Protesters responded with cheers, underscoring the volatility of the event and its broader political undertones.
Symbolic Protest from the Stage
Following the terrorism charge, Mo Chara took to the stage at a different event — this time with tape covering his mouth, a silent but potent act of protest.
The message? That his voice, and perhaps the voices of others like him, was being silenced.
Ongoing Legal Battle, Unfolding Cultural Moment
This case isn’t just about one man, a flag, or a concert.
It’s become a flashpoint in larger conversations about freedom of expression, political resistance, and how far musicians can — or should — go in making a statement.
Kneecap insists they don’t support banned groups like Hamas or Hezbollah.
Their fans believe them. The legal system? That remains to be seen.