More than 60 artists have taken a stand against South by Southwest (SXSW), dropping out of the annual Austin-based fest over its links to defense contractors and military agencies. The mass exodus of performers, supported by the Austin for Palestine Coalition, protests SXSW's affiliations with companies like Raytheon's subsidiary Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems. These artists are leveraging their absence as a call to action, hoping to push SXSW to cut ties with these defense bodies and shine a light on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as reported by CBS Austin.
The movement, dubbed "War Mongers out of SXSW" by the coalition, has gained traction on social media with a list of boycotting artists shared on Instagram. Gov. Greg Abbott's terse response to the boycott—"Bye. Don't come back"—further stoked tensions as he expressed pride in Texas's military presence. His statement, as noted by KVUE, underscores a stark contrast between the artists' human rights concerns and a state that houses the Army Futures Command headquarters.
However, participants like Aaron Chavez of TC Superstar, who plays keyboards, believe there should be a line drawn. "It's absurd because to me. The Army, the military, has no place in a music festival," Chavez told KVUE. He asserts the inconsistency in SXSW's stance on human rights when military sponsors are visibly present. Abe Batshon, Palestinian-American CEO of Beatstars, also withdrew his company from the event, emphasizing the incongruity of military recruitment at a cultural festival.
The United Musicians and Allied Workers Union, representing many of the boycotting artists, has also championed fair pay within SXSW. A protest organized by them and the Austin for Palestine Coalition is set to take place outside the event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., as per KVUE. The group seeks to combine its efforts for equitable compensation with a broader message against the militarization of cultural spaces.
