Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields and Nancy Wang Yuen take part in the keynote “Breaking Barrier, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen” on the first day of the South by Southwest Conference on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
(NewsNation) — Numerous artists and panelists are withdrawing from South by Southwest, boycotting the festival due to the U.S. military’s sponsorship and its backing of Israel’s fight against Hamas.
The Army is a significant sponsor of the Austin, Texas, event. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense and several of its agencies are participating in conferences, along with military contractors like Raytheon and Collins Aerospace.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had a straightforward response to artists pulling out: “Bye. Don’t come back.” He continued by stating that Texas is proud of the military and said, “If you don’t like it, don’t come here.”
The entire official music delegation from Ireland has withdrawn from the event, with about 80 musicians or panelists, in total, no longer participating.
In response to protests and Abbott, conference organizers said they disagreed with the governor’s viewpoint, adding they welcome diverse viewpoints and honor the artists’ decisions.
South by Southwest organizers defended the military sponsorship, stating it’s a leading industry in emerging technology and a testing ground for many systems used today.
The conference runs through the weekend, with more than 300,000 attendees expected. It’s been a popular launch platform for musicians and filmmakers and in recent years has attracted large sectors of the tech industry.
