Two U.S. Senators Urged SXSW to Move Out of Texas to Protest SB 4
It’s not clear what the economic impact of SB 4, the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill, will end up being. Certainly, Arizona’s SB 1070—which shares many common elements with the Texas law—had a measured impact on that state. (Estimates put it around $500 million in negative economic impact.) Major proposed boycotts from entities like Major League Baseball failed to materialize, but cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Minneapolis, Denver, and Seattle all banned travel by city officials to Arizona, and limited the business transactions with Arizona-based companies. It’s too early to tell what impact it’ll have in Texas—but Democratic U.S. Senators Bob Menendez, of New Jersey, and Catherine Cortez Masto, of Nevada, have urged one prominent Texas event to reconsider its location—South by Southwest.
In an open letter published by the two senators addressing SXSW CEO Roland Swenson, they made their case:
/excerpt
We first would like to thank you for previously speaking out against harsh immigration policies such as President Trump’s Executive Order which bans citizens from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. It is because of your willingness to standup for what is right that we write to respectfully request you consider relocating the 2018 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals to a different state until the recent anti-immigrant SB4 law is repealed.
{…}
{T}his law stands diametrically opposed to the spirit of SXSW. Throughout its 31 years, SXSW has been a beacon of consistency, standing with artists and participants regarding equality, tolerance, and safety during events. SB4, however, would not allow SXSW to be a safe place for immigrants and Americans alike to visit, participate, and enjoy; the culture and safety of the event would be greatly diminished if your attendants are faced with the humiliation and harassment that this new law would inflict. Not only does this law stand against what SXSW stands for but also what we fundamentally stand for as a nation that believes in basic dignity and respect for all.
For these reasons, we respectfully ask that you consider relocating the 2018 South by Southwest Conference and Festivals to a different state until Texas terminates its harmful, shameful immigration policies. SB4 is the product of the anti-immigrant wave that has engulfed our country, and we need leaders like yourself to stand on the right side of history by rejecting the demonization of our Hispanic and immigrant communities. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
/end excerpt
SXSW is a Texas-grown, Texas-based company, and the conference’s entire existence is predicated on being based in Austin. The city developed the infrastructure needed to host SXSW (a zillion clubs and bars that are staffed to handle the influx of business, a slew of new downtown hotel rooms) organically. Just up and moving the mega-conference to, say, Kansas City isn’t realistic for a few reasons, but the fact that there isn’t another city capable of replicating the SXSW experience—and certainly not within a ten-month window—is chief among them. It’s not like SXSW is the NCAA Final Four, which is the sort of traveling event that cities around the country have experience hosting. There’s no shortage of cities that would love to host SXSW, but there’s a real dearth of cities that are capable of it.
Read more: http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/two-u-s-senators-urged-sxsw-move-texas-protest-sb-4/
Sorry senators, but holding SXSW outside of Austin means that it is an imitation and no longer SXSW whether you either love or hate the festival.
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