Paul McCartney Shows Support For Pussy Riot During Bonnaroo Set: Watch

Paul McCartney took a moment out of his two-and-a-half-hour, headlining Bonnaroo set to show support for the incarcerated Russian punk band Pussy Riot. As he and his band wrapped “Back in the U.S.S.R,” off the Beatles‘ 1968 self-titled double album, a screen flashed images of traditional Russian folk dancers before a message appeared: “FREE PUSSY RIOT.”

Late last month McCartney had written letters to Russian authorities, after imprisoned Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were denied parole. Immediately, and after she was refused the right to attend her own parole meeting, Alyokhina went on a hunger strike.

“My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world,” McCartney wrote, according to his official website. “In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case.”

Watch McCartney show support for Pussy Riot up top, then a performance of “Helter Skelter” below.