The popular South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, has been hit with a wave of protest as several artists and bands have pulled out of the event in protest of the U.S. Army’s sponsorship. According to the protest group Austin for Palestine Coalition, the Army’s involvement with SXSW is unacceptable due to its ties with weapons manufacturing companies that have allegedly supplied weapons to the Israeli military for use against Palestinians.
The protest began in February with the group calling for a boycott of the festival, specifically targeting the U.S. military and companies such as Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems. These companies have been accused of directly providing weapons to the IDF that have been used in violent acts against Palestinians. The group’s call to action gained traction, resulting in several bands and performers withdrawing from their scheduled appearances at SXSW.
One such performer, Squirrel Flower, also known as Ella Williams, took to Instagram to explain her decision to withdraw from the festival. She stated that she could not be complicit in supporting war profiteers and would not be participating in an event that included defense contractors as sponsors. Similarly, the punk band Scowl also stated that they could not support an event with ties to the U.S. Army and companies that are involved in the manufacturing and supply of weapons used against Palestinians.
Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship.
Bye. Don’t come back.
Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command.
San Antonio is Military City USA.
We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas.
If you don’t like it, don’t come here.
https://t.co/t3RyQgLRKN— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 12, 2024
The protests have gained attention and even sparked a response from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He took to Twitter to express his disapproval of the bands and performers pulling out of SXSW and told them not to come back. Governor Abbott defended the Army’s presence at the event, reminding everyone that Austin is the HQ for the Army Futures Command and that San Antonio is known as “Military City USA”. He stated that Texas is proud of its military and those who do not agree with this should not come to the state.
In response to the protests and Governor Abbott’s comments, SXSW released a statement clarifying its stance on the controversy. The organization stated that it does not share the Governor’s sentiments and welcomes diverse viewpoints, including those of performers who choose to withdraw from the event. They also emphasized that their decision to invite the Army as a sponsor was part of their commitment to introduce cutting-edge ideas and technologies to their audience.
The statement also addressed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and stated that SXSW stands for human rights for all. They acknowledged the tragedy of the situation and the need to stand against injustice. However, they maintained that the Army’s presence at the festival does not mean they support any unjust actions. They also highlighted that over 2,000 performers are still scheduled for the event, showcasing the diversity of thought and ideas that SXSW aims to promote.
Despite the protests and the controversy, SXSW is continuing as planned. The festival, which started last Friday, will run until Saturday. While the boycott has resulted in a number of performers pulling out, SXSW reported that there are still over 2,000 performers scheduled to participate. The organization maintains that its goal is to promote innovation, creativity, and diversity, and it will continue to do so regardless of the current situation. As the festival continues, it remains to be seen if the protests will have any significant impact on the success of SXSW.
