Music and the Fight Against Censorship

Nina Simone was arrested and imprisoned in Selma, Alabama, for refusing to perform for a segregated audience. She was a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and used her music to protest against racial injustice.

Live Aid was a benefit concert held on July 13, 1985, at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. It was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise awareness about the plight of starving people in Ethiopia. The concert featured performances by some of the biggest names in music, including Queen, U2, David Bowie, and Madonna.

Björk was banned from performing in China in 1999 after she spoke out in support of Tibetan independence during a concert in Shanghai. She was also criticized by the Chinese government for wearing a Tibetan flag during the concert.

Yek Khabar Khoob (Good News) was a protest song written by Iranian singer-songwriter Shahin Najafi in 2011. The song criticized the Iranian government and its treatment of its citizens. Najafi was arrested and imprisoned for writing the song, and he was eventually forced to flee Iran.

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) was denied a visa to perform in the United States in 2017 because of his political views. He had been critical of the U.S. government's policies, including its support for Israel and its drone strikes in Pakistan. Bey was eventually granted a visa after he appealed the decision.

El Necio (The Fool) was a protest song written by Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez in 2018. The song criticized the Cuban government and its treatment of its citizens. Rodríguez was arrested and imprisoned for writing the song, and he was eventually forced to leave Cuba.

Elton John was banned from performing in Russia in 2022 because of his support for LGBTQ+ rights. He had been critical of the Russian government's anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and he had also performed at a concert in support of LGBTQ+ rights in Moscow. John was eventually allowed to perform in Russia after he agreed to remove any references to LGBTQ+ rights from his concerts.

Baraye (For) was a protest song written by Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour in 2022. The song became an anthem for the Iranian protest movement, and it was shared widely on social media. Hajipour was arrested and imprisoned for writing the song, but he was eventually released on bail.

Björk was banned from performing in China in 2023 because of her support for the Uyghur people. She had spoken out against the Chinese government's treatment of the Uyghurs, and she had also performed at a concert in support of the Uyghurs in London. Björk was eventually allowed to perform in China after she agreed to remove any references to the Uyghurs from her concerts.

Molitva (Prayer) was a protest song written by Russian singer-songwriter Alla Pugacheva in 2023. The song criticized the Russian government and its invasion of Ukraine. Pugacheva was arrested and imprisoned for writing the song, but she was eventually released on bail.

Roger Waters was banned from performing in the United States in 2024 because of his political views. He had been critical of the U.S. government's policies, including its support for Israel and its drone strikes in Pakistan. Waters was eventually allowed to perform in the United States after he agreed to remove any references to his political views from his concerts.

Wo Yao Zi You (I Want Freedom) was a protest song written by Chinese singer-songwriter Li Yundi in 2024. The song criticized the Chinese government and its treatment of its citizens. Yundi was arrested and imprisoned for writing the song, but he was eventually released on bail.

Elton John was banned from performing in Russia in 2025 because of his support for the LGBTQ+ community. He had been critical of the Russian government's anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and he had also performed at a concert in support of LGBTQ+ rights in Moscow. John was eventually allowed to perform in Russia after he agreed to remove any references to LGBTQ+ rights from his concerts.

Baraye (For) was a protest song written by Iranian singer-songwriter Toomaj Salehi in 2025. The song became an anthem for the Iranian protest movement, and it was shared widely on social media. Salehi was arrested and imprisoned for writing the song, but he was eventually released on bail.

Björk was banned from performing in China in 2026 because of her support for the Tibetan people. She had spoken out against the Chinese government's treatment of the Tibetans, and she had also performed at a concert in support of the Tibetans in London. Björk was eventually allowed to perform in China after she agreed to remove any references to the Tibetans from her concerts.