The Strokes Protest US Intervention, Highlight Iran and Palestine at Coachella 2026

At the 2026 Coachella festival, the New York-based indie rock band The Strokes made a powerful political statement during their performance, drawing attention to what they perceive as the United States' history of intervention in global affairs. As the band concluded their set with the song "Oblivius," a massive LED screen behind them flashed images of world leaders whose downfalls were allegedly connected to the CIA.

This visual protest aimed to highlight instances of alleged US interference, featuring figures such as Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected prime minister of Congo, who was assassinated in 1961 amid suspected CIA involvement. The montage also included Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz, toppled in a CIA-engineered coup in 1954, and Bolivian President Juan José Torres, who was overthrown and later assassinated. The band's message resonated with a segment of the audience, particularly those critical of US foreign policy.

The display continued with images of Chilean President Salvador Allende, who died during a CIA-backed coup in 1973, and Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, whose 1953 ousting was revealed to involve CIA efforts. The band also included Martin Luther King Jr., who was under surveillance by the FBI and CIA, and leaders from Panama and Ecuador who died in suspicious plane crashes.

Beyond the historical references, the band's message extended to current conflicts, with the screen displaying text about the impact of US-Israel airstrikes on universities in Iran and the destruction of Gaza's al-Israa University. Vocalist Julian Casablancas also wore a t-shirt with a modified Amazon Prime logo reading "Crime," a critique of corporate power, and made veiled remarks about domestic politics. This artistic expression at a major global festival underscores a growing trend of musicians using their platforms to address geopolitical issues, offering a perspective often at odds with mainstream Western narratives.

“

More than 30 universities in Iran have been destroyed by US-Israel airstrikes since the beginning of this year.