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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and SXSW on Tuesday traded jabs on social media in response to a gaggle of as many as 60 bands who’ve pulled out of Austin-based pageant to protest its sponsor ties to the U.S. Military, in addition to its inclusion of protection contractors participating in a few of the fest’s convention applications.
“Bye. Don’t come again,” Abbott wrote on his private Twitter (X) feed right now as information of the pullouts unfold. “Austin stays the HQ for the Military Futures Command. San Antonio is Navy Metropolis USA. We’re happy with the U.S. army in Texas. In the event you don’t prefer it, don’t come right here.”
By itself social media accounts, SXSW responded to Abbott, saying “SXSW doesn’t agree with Governor Abbott,” including that the group “welcomes numerous viewpoints. Music is the soul of SXSW, and it has lengthy been our legacy. We totally respect the choice these artists made to train their proper to free speech.” (See the complete fest assertion under.)
On the coronary heart of the band boycott is the inclusion of the U.S. Military as a sponsor of SXSW; in line with the pageant’s web site, it’s a “Tremendous Sponsor” together with different corporations together with Volkswagen, The Austin Chronicle, Porsche, C4 Vitality and Delta. As well as, protection contractors Raytheon, Collins Aerospace and BAE Programs, in addition to Division of Protection companies together with the CIA and NSA, are participating in convention occasions on the pageant, the sprawling annual occasion in Austin that encompasses the well-known music, movie and TV pageant with speaker and convention platforms that includes subjects that run the gamut from tech, leisure, science and tradition to well being, politics and media.
Organizers of a gaggle known as the Austin for Palestine Coalition on their webpage No Warmongers at SXSW 2024 spotlight the trio of protection contractors as contributing to the present Israel-Hamas battle, saying Raytheon and Collins manufacture weapons and army plane elements “for the Israeli army to make use of towards Palestinians,” whereas BAE “equipped weapons and gear used within the occupation of Palestinian territories.”
It’s calling for SXSW to disinvite the businesses and re-evaluate together with DOD companies in pageant occasions and discussions. It additionally urges fest organizers to “use its platform to lift consciousness in regards to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza and advocate for peace, justice, and the safety of human rights.”
“As well as, we’re disturbed by SXSW’s platforming of companies within the Division of Protection, together with the CIA, NSA, and NRO,” it wrote. “These organizations contribute to violence world wide, undermining the pageant’s status as a celebration of creativity and innovation. If SXSW needs to retain its credibility, it should change course by disavowing the normalization of militarization throughout the tech and leisure industries.”
The web site listed greater than 60 bands musicians who’ve dropped out of the music pageant, which kicked off Monday and runs by means of March 16. The United Musicians and Allied Employees group has signaled its endorsement of the boycott.
The SXSW Movie & TV Pageant runs March 8-16.
SXSW is partially owned by P-MRC Holdings, a three way partnership of Deadline mum or dad firm Penske Media Company and MRC.
Right here is SXSW’s full response to Abbott:
SXSW doesn’t agree with Governor Abbott.“We’re a company that welcomes numerous viewpoints. Music is the soul of SXSW, and it has lengthy been our legacy. We totally respect the choice these artists made to train their proper to free speech.Throughout the globe, we’re witnessing unspeakable tragedies, the rise of repressive regimes, and the rising unfold of violent battle. It’s extra essential than ever that we come collectively to unravel these higher humanitarian points.The protection business has traditionally been a proving floor for lots of the techniques we depend on right now. These establishments are sometimes leaders in rising applied sciences, and we imagine it’s higher to grasp how their method will impression our lives.The Military’s sponsorship is a part of our dedication to deliver ahead concepts that form our world. In regard to Collins Aerospace, they participated this 12 months as a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch classes, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for doubtlessly game-changing work.We’ve got and can proceed to help human rights for all. The state of affairs within the Center East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened significance of standing collectively towards injustice.”