SXSW issues statement after artists withdraw from festival
Texan festival SXSW has issued a statement about the artists and bands continuously pulling out of the festival in support of Palestine.
Artists including Cardinals, NewDad, Kneecap, Lambrini Girls, Enola Gay and many others have all dropped out after it emerged the festival has strong associations with weapons companies and the US Army.
In addition to SXSW being linked to defence contractor RTX Corporation, it is also sponsored by the US Army. On March 4th, the boycott was led by singer-songwriter Ella Williams, who performs as Squirrel Flower. Since then, many more followed suit.
On March 12, the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, wrote in response on social media, “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.”
Furthermore, SXSW issued a statement of their own, noting, “SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbott. We are an organisation that welcomes diverse viewpoints. Music is the soul of SXSW, and it has long been our legacy. We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech.”
The festival continued, “Across the globe, we are witnessing unspeakable tragedies, the rise of repressive regimes, and the increasing spread of violent conflict. It’s more crucial than ever to come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues.”
SXSW also attempted to explain its sponsorship and affiliation with the US Army, saying, “The defence industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today. These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives.”
One of the lates acts to pull out of the event is British singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri, who explained on X that both of her parents were “child soldiers” in Zimbabwe and “because of this, war is an extremely triggering topic that I find emotionally difficult to speak about”.
Chinouriri explained how her withdrawal has caused an “immense financial loss” but stated it “has been an extremely easy decision to make”.
This is a developing story.
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