“It is revealing that Danny Donnelly, an elected representative of the Alliance Party, attacks Unionists for criticising Kneecap — a rap group whose very name glorifies the brutal practice of IRA kneecappings, leaving countless innocent victims scarred for life.
“While Alliance routinely condemns Loyalism for the slightest real or perceived offence, Mr Donnelly leaps to the defence of a group that:
• openly calls for the ethnic cleansing of ‘Brits’ from Northern Ireland;
• weaponises the Irish language, featuring the notorious slogan ‘Every word spoken in Irish is a bullet in the freedom struggle’ in promotional material;
• supports terrorist groups in the Middle East, including Hamas; and
• advocates the murder of Tory MPs.
“If any group associated with Loyalism featured a character in a balaclava named DJ UDA, Mr Donnelly and his party would waste no time in public denunciation. Yet he now seeks to shield a group whose stage names mock the suffering inflicted by IRA terrorists.
“It is important to make clear that Mr Donnelly’s views do not represent the majority of East Antrim. Accordingly, today I have written to the U.S. Department of State to request that Kneecap be denied visas to spread their toxic ideology to America.”
Mr Warrick’s letter is as follows:
Visa Office
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
United States of America
Re: Objection to Visa Applications by Kneecap
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write on behalf of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) to urge the United States Department of State to deny visas to the rap group Kneecap, who are seeking entry into the United States for a concert tour later this year.
Kneecap are not merely entertainers; they are open advocates of violence, division, and terror. Their lyrics and public appearances glorify the blood-soaked legacy of the Provisional IRA, a terrorist organisation responsible for nearly 1,800 murders. Their very name references the IRA’s gruesome practice of “kneecapping” — a method of torture used to permanently maim their victims.
Kneecap has publicly called for violence against sitting Members of Parliament, promoting the killing of elected officials — a grave incitement that goes far beyond artistic expression and constitutes a direct attack on democracy.
The group also uses their platform to champion extremist causes abroad. At their recent performance at the Coachella music festival, they projected inflammatory anti-Israel slogans, accusing Israel of genocide and condemning the U.S. government as complicit in alleged war crimes.
Furthermore, they have publicly aligned themselves with organisations such as Hamas, whose brutal acts of terrorism have targeted Jewish civilians.
In today’s climate, where antisemitism is a rising threat particularly in academic settings where President Trump’s administration has taken welcome steps to address the issues, it would be deeply irresponsible to allow entry to individuals who promote such hatred and violence.
U.S. law rightly provides for the denial of visas to those who advocate terrorism, incite political violence, or pose a risk to public order and social cohesion. By their words and actions, Kneecap clearly fall into this category.
Granting Kneecap visas would not promote cultural exchange. It would instead export to American cities a toxic ideology rooted in glorifying terrorism and stoking division.
I therefore respectfully urge the Department of State to reject any current or future visa applications from members of Kneecap.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Matthew Warwick
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV)
East Antrim