In a heated exchange on social media, South by Southwest (SXSW) organizers and Texas Governor Greg Abbott sparred over the U.S. Army's sponsorship of the popular music festival. The dispute arose after several bands withdrew from the event due to objections over the Army's involvement. The festival's official Twitter account made it clear that they did not agree with Governor Abbott's criticism.

The music component of South by Southwest kicked off on Monday and is set to run through Saturday. However, in the past week, a significant number of artists, including Kneecap, Scowl, Squirrel Flower, Eliza McLamb, Shalom, and Mamalarky, announced their decision to pull out. Squirrel Flower's Ella Williams took to Instagram to explain her withdrawal, citing the festival's association with defense contractors, including Raytheon subsidiaries, and their support from the U.S. Army. She also voiced her support for the Palestinian people.

According to the Austin for Palestine Coalition (APC), an organization advocating for a boycott of the festival, approximately 60 artists have backed out. Governor Abbott, in response to the controversy, defended the U.S. military's presence in Texas, emphasizing that Austin is the headquarters for the Army Futures Command and San Antonio is known as "Military City USA." He invited dissenting artists to stay away if they disagreed with the military's involvement.

South by Southwest's organizers promptly addressed Governor Abbott's criticism, stating that they respect the artists' right to free speech and their decisions to withdraw. They defended the Army's sponsorship, highlighting the defense industry's role as a platform for emerging technologies that shape our lives. They specifically mentioned Collins Aerospace, a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch categories, which supports entrepreneurs with visibility and potential funding for groundbreaking work.

The APC was formed last fall to protest the festival's association with defense contractor RTX, also known as Raytheon, and its subsidiary, Collins Aerospace, along with associated BAE Systems. The coalition accuses these companies of manufacturing implements of war used in Israel's attacks on Palestinian territories.

While BAE Systems stated that they have no plans to participate in this year's SXSW, the organizations involved did not respond to requests for comment from Rolling Stone. The Austin Chronicle reported that South by Southwest had issued a cease and desist notice to the APC for unauthorized use of its logo, asserting their rights as trademark and copyright owners.

The clash between South by Southwest and Governor Abbott represents an ongoing debate around the festival's sponsorship choices and the presence of the defense industry. As the festival continues, the music industry and political landscape will closely watch how this controversy unfolds.

This article was updated at 6:45 p.m. on March 12 to include a statement from BAE Systems.