The Glastonbury Music Festival and How Artists Responded to Roe v. Wade
One of the biggest platforms for social and political change throughout history has been music festivals, and this has trend has continued to this day. Following legendary music festivals such as Woodstock, where grassroots movements were born, musicians and other performing artists at music festivals continue to use the stage as a platform to express their beliefs and encourage others to take action. The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary and Performing Arts 2022 proved to be no exception to this rule.
After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the legendary music festival took place and was better than ever, featuring headliners Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, and Kendrick Lamar. Other performances from noteworthy artists included Rufus Wainright, Ziggy Marley, HAIM, Greta Thunberg, Lorde, Diana Ross, St. Vincent, Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo, Glass Animals, Kacey Musgraves, Phoebe Bridgers, Girl in Red, Mitski, Orla Gartland, Calvin Harris, Hope Tala, and more. 1,000 performers took to several stages in Somerset, England from June 22-26, 2022. Just two days after the festival began, on June 24, 2022, the news broke that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, effectively eradicating abortion rights in states spanning the nation. Roe v Wade was a revolutionary decision made by the US Supreme Court in 1973 that federally protected women’s rights to have an abortion, maintaining that the Constitution of the United States protects the individual’s right to choose. After decades of religious and moral debate, SCOTUS has overturned the monumentous decision and set the US back decades. Immediately following the breaking news, protests took place across the country, and American artists playing at Glastonbury voiced their feelings on the horrifying ruling.
Singer-songwriters including Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion, and Billie Eilish spoke out about their views on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, and none were happy.
According to BuzzFeed, on the topic of abortion rights, Megan Thee Stallion said “Texas really embarrassing me right now; y’all know that’s my home state. And I want to have it on the motherfucking record that the hot boys and the hot girls do not support this bullshit that y’all campaign for. My body is my motherfucking choice.”
19 year-old pop singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo also spoke extensively on her thoughts about the ruling. According to The Independent, prior to bringing on singer Lily Allen to sing her 2009 hit song “Fuck You” in response to the ruling, Rodrigo said, “I’m devestated and terrified [by the recent ruling] and so many women and girls are going to die because of this and I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who showed us at the end of the day they truly don’t give a s*** about freedom. This song goes out to the justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh.”
In order to protest SCOTUS’ decision and support women in need of abortions, donate to your local abortion funds, attend protests in your community, call your lawmakers, and vote for change. More information about how to fight for abortion rights can be found here.
