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At least 80 artists and speakers pulled out of the Texas event as part of a boycott against American arms companies.
Dozens of acts scheduled to perform at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the United States have pulled out in an act of protest against sponsors linked to Israel’s war in Gaza.
As of Wednesday, at least 80 artists and panelists had pulled out of the nine-day festival, citing the participation of various weapons companies and agencies linked to the U.S. Department of Defense, according to the Austin Coalition for Palestine, which helped organize the protest.
The event, billed as a “convergence of technology, film, music education and culture,” is among the most prominent entertainment festivals in the southern United States.
The festival, held each year in Austin, Texas, has been a launching pad for emerging independent filmmakers and artists since its inauguration in 1987. This year’s festival will conclude on March 16.
But several artists scheduled to appear this year have pulled out, in an effort to show solidarity with the people of Gaza.
“I have decided to withdraw from my official SXSW performances in protest of SXSW’s ties to the defense industry and in support of the Palestinian people,” musician Ella Williams, known as Squirrel Flower, posted on Instagram on March 4.
we are boycotting @sxsw pic.twitter.com/mGN7XeXlwr
— Lambrini Girls (@Lambrini_Girls) March 9, 2024
The Austin Coalition for Palestine identified Williams as one of the first nine groups to walk out as part of the protest.
Ibrahim Batshon, founder of digital production company BeatStars, posted a day later on social media that artists associated with his organization would also boycott the festival, which attracted more than 345,000 people last year.
He cited the participation of Raytheon and BAE Systems, two of the companies involved in this year’s SXSW festival.
“Both companies manufacture and supply weapons to the terrorist state of Israel, which is currently carrying out an internationally condemned genocide against an occupied and besieged population of Palestinians,” Batshon posted.
However, the boycott has since ballooned to include prominent speakers such as union organizer Chris Smalls and musicians such as Buffalo Nichols.
The advocacy organization United Musicians and Allied Workers has also lent its support to the protest, echoing its war cry on social media: “Warmongers have no place at SXSW!”
We will not be present at @sxsw festival. 👇 pic.twitter.com/nt5hEMH2GM
— KNEECAPCEOL (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 10, 2024
Announcing their withdrawal this week, Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap highlighted the costs small acts would incur if they missed the high-profile event.
“This decision will have a significant financial impact on Kneecap, both in lost revenue and logistics costs already incurred,” the trio said in a statement. “But it is not even an ounce of difficulty compared to the (unimaginable) suffering that is inflicted every minute of every day on the people of Gaza.”
As of Wednesday, at least 31,272 Palestinians had been killed in Israel’s operations in Gaza, the vast majority of them women and children, according to local authorities. The fighting has left the enclave on the brink of famine, and human rights groups accuse Israel of delaying the delivery of humanitarian aid.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has continued to pledge political and material support to Israel, despite issuing stronger criticism of its military campaign in recent weeks.
“There are a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying,” Biden said last month. “And this has to stop.”
Governor responds: ‘Don’t come here’
However, the growing SXSW boycott effort prompted a rebuke Tuesday from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
“We are proud of the US military in Texas,” he wrote on social media. “If you don’t like it, don’t come here.”
In late February, the Austin Chronicle also reported that SXSW organizers sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Austin Coalition for Palestine as they sought to drum up support for the boycott.
The letter said the group had used SXSW trademark art in its social media posts and threatened legal action, according to the news site.
“Bands pull out of SXSW over US military sponsorship”.
Bye bye. Do not come back.
Austin remains the headquarters of the Army Futures Command.
San Antonio is the military city of the United States.
We are proud of the US military in Texas.
If you don’t like it, don’t come here.
—Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 12, 2024
Still, the festival defended the artists who chose not to participate in this year’s festival, responding directly to Governor Abbott’s comments.
“SXSW disagrees with Governor Abbott,” SXSW wrote on social media Tuesday. “We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to freedom of expression.”
However, in the same message thread, SXSW also attempted to justify its ties to the defense industry.
“The defense industry has historically been a testing ground for many of the systems we rely on today,” the festival wrote in its statement. “These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies and we believe it is best to understand how their approach will impact our lives.”
The Austin Coalition for Palestine and the United Union of Musicians and Allied Workers will host a protest show in Austin on Thursday.