Artists withdraw from official SXSW showcases
A number of artists - to date including Proper., Squirrel Flower, Okay Shalom, Eliza McLamb, Mamalarky, and Merce Lemon - have opted to withdraw from their scheduled SXSW showcases as a gesture of solidarity with Palestine.
Last week, the Austin For Palestine Coalition initiated a campaign shedding light on SXSW's connections to the defence industry, calling on the festival to sever ties with defence companies. In response, the campaign has spurred an increasing number of artists to withdraw from official showcases and advocate for the removal of problematic sponsorships from SXSW.
In their statement shared on Instagram, Proper. stated:
“I’m gonna keep this short: We’ve decided to drop off our official SXSW showcase. They’re already sh***y enough to artists; So learning yesterday that they’re working with Raytheon, who supplies missiles & bombs to the IDF was alarming but somehow not surprising anymore.
And I just want to suggest a little grace for those deciding to play their showcases. I know the Internet is the place to go for all or nothing thinking, but remember that some artists/smaller labels simply cannot afford to pull out this close to the festival and they’re left with a really sh***y hand.”
Following these withdrawals, discussions regarding SXSW's association with the defence industry are likely to persist. However, as Proper. pointed out, certain artists and smaller labels may encounter financial limitations preventing them from taking a stand, even if they have the moral inclination to do so. Let's show some grace and refrain from chastising those who can't take the stand due to such challenges.
Read more about the Austin For Palestine Coalition SXSW campaign, and watch the video for “Red, White, & Blue” by Proper.:
