Twitter responds to RATM fans who are surprised they’re a political band following pro-Palestine message

After Rage Against The Machine fans responded in their hundreds and thousands online last June when many people on the internet were apparently confused and surprised about the band's political leanings, Rage are once again trending on Twitter having spoken out about the current Israel-Palestine conflict.

The rap-metal activists shared a statement of solidarity with the people of Palestine on May 13, after at least 83 Palestinians and seven people in Israel were killed (according to the BBC).

"The violence and atrocities we are witnessing in Sheikh Jarrah, the Al Aqsa compound and Gaza are a continuation of decades of Israel's brutal apartheid and violent occupation of Palestine," they said. "We stand with the Palestinian people as they resist this colonial terror in all its forms."

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Additionally, the @RATM Twitter account – which is run with the band's "blessing" – reposted the statement with the pre-emptive comment of, "Awaiting the 'stay out of politics' and 'stick to music'."

Of course, Twitter users were quick to respond – both positively and negatively – to this message, with @RATM sharing one particularly amusing post by @CharlTaylorPage (which has been retweeted 11,000 times at the time of writing): "Dying because Rage Against the Machine posted a message in support of Palestine and people are telling them to stay out of politics and calling them woke. WHAT DID YOU THINK THE MACHINE WAS a fucking washer dryer??"

Other fans highlighted just how unsurprising Rage's statement was. "Rage Against the Machine wrote in support of Palestine?!?" commented @NojTheCynic. "Geez, what's next? Are the Red Hot Chili Peppers going to come out and say they're from California?"

"[Your] annual reminder that Rage Against the Machine are a political band," @kelly_welles said. "The clue is in the name so I probably wouldn't be shocked if they make political statements."

See the internet's response below:

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