(Xinhua) 14:59, March 13, 2024 AUSTIN, the United States, March 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. artists attending a festival in Austin, capital city of Texas, on Tuesday voiced their concerns about the presence of U.S. military in the state and U.S. support of Israel in Gaza. The Austin for Palestine Coalition said on Tuesday that more than 60 artists, musicians and panelists, who participated in the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, have joined the coalition's campaign titled "War Mongers out of SXSW." "We are an organization that welcomes diverse viewpoints ... We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech," the coalition said in a statement. Ealier on Tuesday, U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott told those artists to leave the festival and not to come back. "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," the Republican governor wrote on social media platform X. "If you don't like it, don't come here," he added. "SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbotts," SXSW said in the statement. "The situation in the Middle East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened importance of standing together against injustice." SXSW, an annual festival spanning from new technologies and tendencies to film world premieres, individual music and XR (extended reality) experiences, runs from March 8 to 16 in Austin. |
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an everStanton and Rizzo help Yankees rally in 9th inning for 2Fulton County officials say by law they don't control Fani Willis' spending in Trump caseAetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customersCEO of hair loss company HIMS sparks outrage and a boycott by offering campus protesters jobsYellen says threats to democracy risk US economic growth, an indirect jab at TrumpSevere weather: Houston braces for flooding to worsenJordan Spieth got elbowed back in the fairway, but missed cut at hometown NelsonSouth Carolina court orders ACC to provide Clemson with ESPN agreementsRunaway steel drum from Pittsburgh construction site hits kills woman