Boycotts Lead SXSW to, Drop US Military Sponsors, for 2025 Festival.<br />On June 26, South by Southwest (SXSW) announced that the <br />United States Army would no longer be sponsoring the <br />2025 festival after boycotts by artists and panelists occurred in 2024.<br />On June 26, South by Southwest (SXSW) announced that the <br />United States Army would no longer be sponsoring the <br />2025 festival after boycotts by artists and panelists occurred in 2024.<br />After careful consideration, <br />we are revising our sponsorship <br />model. As a result, the U.S. Army, <br />and companies who engage in <br />weapons manufacturing, will <br />not be sponsors of SXSW 2025, SXSW statement, via Fox News.<br />Fox News reports that over 80 artists and panelists pulled <br />out of the 2024 festival "in solidarity with Palestine," <br />according to the Austin for Palestine coalition.<br />Fox News reports that over 80 artists and panelists pulled <br />out of the 2024 festival "in solidarity with Palestine," <br />according to the Austin for Palestine coalition.<br />The group called for a boycott of SXSW <br />over the organization's ties to the U.S. military <br />and weapons-manufacturing companies. .<br />In 2024, the U.S. Army, Defense Department, , Raytheon and L3Harris , all sponsored the SXSW festival.<br />In 2024, the U.S. Army, Defense Department, , Raytheon and L3Harris , all sponsored the SXSW festival.<br />We appreciated the opportunity <br />to join South by Southwest in 2024. <br />With U.S. Army Futures Command <br />headquartered in Austin, we value <br />any opportunity to join with our <br />community to ignite discovery <br />and make new connections. , Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, U.S. Army Futures Command Spokesperson, via Fox News Digital.<br />The Army will continue to <br />seek opportunities to meet <br />technology innovators and <br />leaders, explore new ideas <br />and insights, and create dynamic <br />industry partnerships because <br />tomorrow is worth protecting. , Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, U.S. Army Futures Command Spokesperson, via Fox News Digital.<br />Bands and artists participating in the boycott, <br />including Squirrel Flower, Scowl and Okay Shalom, <br />explained why they protested the 2024 festival. .<br />There are many ways SXSW is harmful <br />to working musicians, but I am pulling <br />out specifically because of the fact <br />that SXSW is platforming defense <br />contractors including Raytheon <br />subsidiaries as well as the U.S. Army, <br />a main sponsor of the festival, Squirrel Flower, also known as <br />Ella Williams, via Instagram.<br />Genocide profiteers like Raytheon <br />supply weapons to the IDF, paid for <br />by our taxes. A music festival should <br />not include war profiteers. I refuse <br />to be complicit in this and withdrawl <br />[sic] my art and labor in protest, Squirrel Flower, also known as <br />Ella Williams, via Instagram.<br />Genocide profiteers like Raytheon <br />supply weapons to the IDF, paid for <br />by our taxes. A music festival should <br />not include war profiteers. I refuse <br />to be complicit in this and withdrawl <br />[sic] my art and labor in protest, Squirrel Flower, also known as <br />Ella Williams, via Instagram
