The protest is focused on the arts festival’s sponsorship by the US army, as they have significant involvement in the Israeli aggression towards Gaza.
More than 70 artists and speakers have decided to boycott the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in support of Palestine, following the revelation of the event’s association with the United States military. It has been disclosed that the US army is a sponsor of the festival held annually in Austin, Texas. Known for its conferences and festivals that celebrate the intersection of technology, film, music, education, and culture, the event has now become a subject of controversy.
Artists have brought attention to the US army and government’s support of Israel, despite its ongoing actions causing harm in Gaza. They also protested the involvement of defense companies like RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems, who sell weapons. In response to these concerns, Squirrel Flower, an artist known as Ella Williams, announced her withdrawal from the SXSW showcases on Instagram. She expressed her decision was based on the festival’s association with the defense industry and to support the Palestinian people.
In her post, Williams emphasized that the “IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has now caused the death of at least one individual out of every 75 residents in Gaza, including 12,300 children. The International Court of Justice has determined that this could potentially be considered genocide.”
Additionally, Kneecap, an Irish hip-hop group, declared that they have canceled their performances at the SXSW festival and will not be traveling to Austin. This decision was made in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to raise awareness about the unacceptable connections between the festival and weapons companies, as well as the US military, which are currently supporting actions leading to genocide and famine against a trapped population.
Kneecap expressed their unwillingness to participate in a festival that welcomed corporations selling the very weapons responsible for the deaths of 31,000 Palestinians, with 21,000 of those being women and children. They couldn’t attend in good faith due to this moral conflict.
Singer Shalom expressed her support for the Palestinian community by withdrawing from the festival, even though she had long desired to participate as a performer. She explained her decision, stating that her dreams, which are fueled by the United States Army, defense contractors, and the CIA, are sustained by the innocent lives lost. Consequently, she refuses to be an accomplice in the continuous, US-backed extermination of the Palestinian people.
A unified group of Austin-based advocacy organizations and entities are urging the city’s support for a lasting ceasefire in Palestine. In response to this call, several artists have decided to withdraw from their participation in SXSW. In addition, the United Musicians & Allied Workers, along with the coalition, have declared a demonstration on March 14th, advocating for “fair compensation and prohibiting war advocates at SXSW”.
As reported by the BBC, Belfast punk band Enola Gay is one of the groups avoiding the festival and opting to perform at the ‘Anti-SXSW Fest,’ organized by the Austin For Palestine Coalition. The band expressed their support for this change in their schedule, stating, “We refuse to participate in SXSW while they host military events and panels showcasing their new technologies, such as AI and drones.” The Austin For Palestine Coalition’s event features artists who decided to withdraw from SXSW in support of the Palestinian cause.
They also posted on Instagram to showcase over 70 artists and panelists who chose not to participate and withdrew from SXSW.
South by Southwest (SXSW) issued a cease-and-desist letter to the Austin for Palestine Coalition, warning them of potential legal action due to the unauthorized use of the festival’s trademark artwork in a post. The activist group’s message called for SXSW to disinvite defense contractors, arguing that these companies have connections to the arming of Israel, which contributes to the violent oppression of the Palestinian people. By supporting these businesses, SXSW is, in turn, complicit in human rights abuses and violations of international law, the post stated.
Following the news of musicians withdrawing from SXSW, Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed his unwavering support for the United States military and offered a somewhat sarcastic farewell to the artists. He stated, “Austin serves as the headquarters for the Army Futures Command. We are proud of our military presence in Texas. If you don’t agree with this, feel free not to visit our state.”
In response, SXSW quickly expressed disagreement with Abbott and emphasized their support for diverse perspectives. They posted on Instagram, stating, “We wholeheartedly respect the artists’ choices to exercise their freedom of speech.” They further highlighted the importance of “uniting to address these larger humanitarian concerns.”
Despite this, the festival maintained its connections with the defense industry, arguing that it offered valuable insights into “many systems we depend on today.” They believed it was crucial to “comprehend the implications of their approach on our lives.”
