Glastonbury is at the centre of a new anti-Israel storm today after an activist from the soon to be proscribed group Palestine Action was platformed onstage.
Francesca Nadin, 38, awaiting trial on criminal damage charges for allegedly smashing a Barclays Bank, was loudly cheered by festival goers as she vowed: “We got to these factories and we smash them up.” She added: “Last year I was watching Glasto on TV in a prison cell. Now, I’m here in real life. We’re doing actions every week … we will keep going until they are all gone.”
Nadin, remanded in prison for months ahead of a trial next January, appeared on stage on Thursday night.
She is set to make a second appearance on Saturday at the Speaker’s Corner stage at an event titled, “Palestine: Modes of Resistance”.
Despite the government’s pledge last week to proscribe Palestine Action over multiple violent actions, including a break-in at RAF Brize Norton, Nadin’s appearance was promoted on the official festival app.
Her appearance at 1pm is due to come just hours before anti-Israel rap act Kneecap made their controversial appearance on stage at the festival.
The Irish rap group is to perform at 4pm on the West Holts stage, amid criticism from music industry executives and from the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer.
One of the trio, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is on bail charged with a terrorism offence after allegedly displaying a flag representing Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, at a gig in November last year.
Norton was first arrested for her alleged involvement in incident in Bradford in May 2023 protesting against the creation of Israel.
She was then arrested again, 10 days later, in relation to a paint attack in Leeds city centre.
She was remanded in custody for nine months before being released on bail ahead of the trial of the so-called ‘Barclays 7’ next January.
Palestinian flags were openly displayed by festival goers and even on top of one of the dance stages inside the Worthy Farm site.
Graffiti on the outside of one of the toilets read, “Join Pal Action”.
