MPs back Jewish Representative Council’s letter urging for cancellation of Bob Vylan concert in Manchester
A number of MPs have backed a letter from the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester calling for Bob Vylan‘s upcoming Manchester Academy show to be cancelled.
The letter comes in the wake of the terrorism attack that took place in Manchester on October 2nd at a synagogue in Heaton Park on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Two worshippers died, and three others were left injured. The attacker, Jihad al-Shamie, was shot dead by police at the scene.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester previously wrote a letter on September 11th, prior to the terrorist attack, demanding that Manchester Academy cancel the forthcoming show by Bob Vylan, which is scheduled to take place on November 5th.
The new statement has been supported by Labour MPs Navendu Mishra, Conor Rand, Jo Platt, Graham Stringer, Christian Wakeford, Elise Blundell, James Frith, Kirith Entwistle, and Paul Waugh, as well as the Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison.
It reads, “We are deeply concerned by Manchester Academy’s decision to host Bob Vylan, an artist who has repeatedly engaged in rhetoric that crosses the line from legitimate political discourse into antisemitism and incitement.”
The letter also quoted BBC’s director general Tim Davie, who labelled their performance at Glastonbury an “antisemitic broadcast”. Bob Vylan refuted Davie’s claims, writing on X, “Tim Davie is a spineless puppet. There was nothing antisemitic or criminal about anything I said at Glastonbury.”
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester later stated, “There is a vital distinction between legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and speech that veers into antisemitism.”
They concluded the letter by pleading with Manchester Council to “cancel the performance and commit to clear policies that ensure that it will not legitimise prejudice under the guise of freedom of speech.”
Last month, a Bob Vylan concert in the Netherlands was cancelled after their frontman said at a show in Amsterdam following Charlie Kirk’s death, “I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of shit of a human being.”
Making reference to Kirk’s views on the transgender community, he then joked, “Pronouns was/were,” which was greeted by cheers from the Amsterdam crowd. He continued, “Because if you chat shit, you will get Banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of shit.” Resultedly, their planned performance in Tilburg was axed by promoters.
The punk duo remain under investigation from Avon and Somerset Police following their set at Glastonbury, but have not been charged with any offences.
Bob Vylan’s UK tour is set to begin on November 4th at the O2 Academy in Leeds.
Far Out has approached Manchester Academy for comment.
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