More than 80 music artists and multiple panelists have canceled appearances at South by Southwest Festival over the U.S. Army’s sponsorship of the event.
More than 80 artists and panelists have opted out of participating in the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in solidarity with Palestine following revelations of the festival’s sponsorship by the United States military. Held annually in Austin, Texas, the festival is renowned for its convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.
Artists have brought attention to the US army and government’s backing of Israel despite ongoing atrocities in Gaza and have voiced opposition to the festival’s inclusion of defense contractors like RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems for their involvement in weapon sales.
“It is done in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the U.S. military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population,” Ireland-based rap group Kneecap said in a statement on X.
California punk band Scowl, Brooklyn-based artist Okay Shalom and indie band Lambrini Girls are among the dozens of performers who have called off shows this week. Panelists Chris Smalls, president of the Amazon Labor Union, Princeton University professor Ruha Benjamin and others also canceled their appearances.
Ella Williams, known by the stage name Squirrel Flower, wrote on her Instagram.
“I have decided to pull out of my official SXSW showcases in protest of the SXSW’s ties to the defence industry and in support of the Palestinian people,”
The singer maintained that she was specifically pulling out of the festival because it platformed defence contractors.
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The United States is the largest supplier of military aid to Israel. Israeli Defense Forces began a military campaign in Gaza after a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel, with 253 more taken hostage.
Since then, more then 30000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza’s health ministry.