The boycotts appear to be spearheaded by a campaign from the Austin For Palestine Coalition, which began on Feb. 21. The AFPC has asked artists and attendees to apply pressure on SXSW over the participation of military defense firm RTX, better known as Raytheon, and its subsidiary Collins Aerospace, which both make weapons and equipment that are currently being used by the Israeli military.
Zainab Haider, a spokesperson for the AFPC, shared that nearly 600 people have contacted SXSW “to express their horror” at the military-linked sponsors.
“These entities are either sponsoring, funding or supplying weapons for Israel’s assault on Gaza, for what the International Court of Justice is investigating as Genocide in Palestine,” she said .
On Tuesday, Army spokesperson Matt Ahearn responded to the backlash, saying the Army is “proud to be a sponsor of SXSW, and to have the opportunity to showcase America’s Army.”
“SXSW presents a unique opportunity for the Army to meet technology innovators and leaders, explore new ideas and insights, and create dynamic industry partnerships as we modernize for the future,” he said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the boycott on X, condemning the artists who dropped out of the festival.
“Bye. Don’t come back,” he wrote. “Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command. San Antonio is Military City USA. We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas. If you don’t like it, don’t come here.”
The official SXSW account responded in a thread on X that it “does not agree with Governor Abbott.”
The account’s full statement reads:
“SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbott. We are an organization that welcomes diverse viewpoints. Music is the soul of SXSW, and it has long been our legacy. We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech. Across the globe, we are witnessing unspeakable tragedies, the rise of repressive regimes, and the increasing spread of violent conflict. It’s more crucial than ever that we come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues. The defense industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today. These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives. The Army’s sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world. In regard to Collins Aerospace, they participated this year as a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch categories, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for potentially game-changing work. We have and will continue to support human rights for all. The situation in the Middle East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened importance of standing together against injustice.”
The music portion of the SXSW festival began Monday and will conclude on Saturday.
