Minister criticizes Banksy's refugee float

Banksy's new artwork, depicting refugees, receives harsh criticism from Britain's Home Secretary James Cleverly. People are dying in the Mediterranean, people are dying in the English Channel. This is not fun, it's evil, he says to Sky News.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: July 01 2024

Minister criticizes Banksy's refugee float
Photo: Scott A Garfitt/AP/TT

Banksy's new artwork, depicting refugees, receives harsh criticism from Britain's Home Secretary James Cleverly.

People are dying in the Mediterranean, people are dying in the English Channel. This is not funny, it's evil, he says to Sky News.

In the middle of a concert with the band Idles at the British giant festival Glastonbury, a float was suddenly sent out over the audience. In the inflatable float, which was crowd-surfed by the concert-goers, sat dolls depicting refugees.

The anonymous street artist Banksy claims the work, according to BBC. He has posted a film of the event on his Instagram account, something he usually does when he wants to announce that he is behind a work.

The float was sent out over the audience just as the song "Danny Nedelko" was played. The song is described as a tribute to refugees, diversity, and multiculturalism.

The artwork, which the band claims they did not know about beforehand, is interpreted as an action aimed at highlighting the tragedy of the often deadly boat journeys across the English Channel.

But Britain's Home Secretary James Cleverly does not view the artwork favorably. In an interview with Sky News, he describes the work as a misplaced attempt at humor and dismisses the idea that it is a critique of the conservative government's migration policy.

This is not funny, it's evil. It's a tribute to people losing their lives in the English Channel, he says.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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