“The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) has now killed at least 1 in every 75 inhabitants of Gaza, including 12,300 children. The International Court of Justice has ruled that this plausibly amounts to genocide. Genocide profiteers like Raytheon supply weapons to the IDF, paid for by our taxes. A music festival should not include war profiteers. I refuse to be complicit in this and withdraw my art and labor in protest.”

–Ella O’Connor Williams, a.k.a. Squirrel Flower, announcing her refusal to perform at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival on her Instagram account.  

South by Southwest (SXSW) began in Austin, Texas, in 1987 as a festival to showcase regional musicians. It has become one of the largest music festivals in the world. Performing at one of its official “showcases” has been a springboard in the career of many artists, who, largely unknown when they appeared at SXSW, then went on to prominence.

Music is still its core. But SXSW has become a major corporate event featuring developments in emerging technology, film, video, as well as prominent speakers and entertainers. And as it has grown in size, leading imperialist corporations have become deeply involved in its promotion and sponsorship. This year’s SXSW sponsors include major weapons manufacturers like Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems, and RTX (formerly known as Raytheon), and the U.S. Army. 

Singer-songwriter Squirrel Flower was scheduled for an SXSW showcase event this year. But when she learned of the military sponsorship of SXSW, she immediately cancelled her appearance and announced it on Instagram. Her principled and courageous refusal to perform contributed to at least nine other groups and individuals doing the same. 

Soon after Squirrel Flower’s Instagram statement came out, singer-songwriter Eliza McLamb said she, too, was refusing to perform at SXSW: “I have pulled out of my official SXSW showcase after learning that the US Army is a major sponsor of the event. I will never put my name on or perform my labor for an event in service of the US war machine, and especially not now as they continue to fuel the ongoing violence against Palestinians. Blood money has no place in music.” 

Shalom did the same: “i will stand on anti apartheid business until i d*e and that’s just the way it is. thank you @sqrrlflwr & @elizamclamb for holding fast to your morals and for inspiring me to do the same. in solidarity with the pǎlestinån people, i will not be participating in my official @sxsw showcase. i will not dance for the war machine.”

A hell of a lot more of that kind of spirit, courage, and solidarity needs to be expressed in this country. The stand taken by Squirrel Flower, Eliza McLamb, Shalom, and other artists needs to be learned from and taken up by artists and others in all spheres of life.

(Note to readers in the Austin area or who are going to SXSW: Squirrel Flower, Eliza McLamb and other performers who pulled out of SXSW will be performing at various smaller venues around the city for the next two weeks.)