In recent weeks, several artists and bands have withdrawn from the SXSW festival in solidarity with Palestine, citing the event’s association with the US army and weapons companies amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Among those who have pulled out are NewDad, Cardinals, and Enola Gay. However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his disapproval, writing: “Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army Sponsorship. Bye. Don’t come back. If you don’t like it, don’t come here.”
In response, SXSW has issued a statement distancing themselves from Abbott’s post and reiterating their commitment to diverse viewpoints and free speech. The statement reads, “We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech. We are witnessing unspeakable tragedies across the globe, and it’s more crucial than ever that we come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues.” Furthermore, the festival explained its sponsorship with the US Army and defense industry as an opportunity to learn how their approach impacts our lives and bring forward potentially game-changing ideas.
Bands continuing to withdraw from SXSW include Kneecap and Sprints, who cited their solidarity with the people of Palestine and opposition to the event’s US Army sponsorship as reasons for their withdrawal. Lambrini Girls, who also withdrew from the festival, stated that they could not affiliate themselves with the event in any capacity.
Despite the withdrawals, SXSW remains committed to supporting human rights for all and emphasizes that the situation in the Middle East heightens the importance of standing together against injustices. Music is the soul of the festival, and they continue to welcome diverse viewpoints and ideas that shape our world
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