2d ago

Why Are My Favorite Punk Bands Playing a Trump Supporter's Festival? Why I'm Boycotting 'Punk in the Park' ~ L.A. TACO

lataco.com

Los Angeles @lemmy.world

technocrit @lemmy.dbzer0.com

3d ago

Why Are My Favorite Punk Bands Playing a Trump Supporter's Festival? Why I'm Boycotting 'Punk in the Park'

lataco.com /punk-in-the-park-trump

26 comments

Here is the owner's statement in full, from earlier this year, the last time this happened:
I have never posted anything political on our platforms and have no intention to in the future but this needs to be addressed. There have been a lot of assumptions and conclusions made as to who I am and what my values are.
Like many Americans, my political views don’t neatly fit into a single box or party affiliation. I believe in fairness, humanity, free expression, and fostering unity among people. That’s how I’ve tried to live my life and conduct my business.
We live in a two-party system, and unfortunately, you must choose based on a few important issues that resonate with you. For me, those issues were the promise to end wars and refrain from entering new international conflicts, lower taxes, and stopping government overreach.
At the time, it boiled down to those points for me. I must admit that I haven’t been pleased with a great many of the current President’s viewpoints, opinions, and policies thus far, particularly with the recent ICE atrocities and the backtracking on the Epstein files being released as well as all the posturing with our allies around the world.
I think we all probably have common ground on a lot of big issues like being anti-racism, anti-war, and the belief in human rights for EVERYONE, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other identity.
Additionally, I’d imagine we all oppose hate of any kind and passionately support this community of punk rock and its individuality that has welcomed so many misfits into the family over the years.
This community represents a wide range of views and backgrounds, and that diversity has always been part of its identity. We don’t have to see eye to eye on everything to come together and enjoy what unites us, great music, good times, and mutual respect.
It’s important to note that the festival has not and will not donate any of its proceeds to any political party. However, we do make significant donations to various charitable causes, such as Punk Rock Saves Lives and Big Brother Big Sister.
We proudly employ hundreds of people directly and indirectly at our festivals from all walks of life, race, religion and sexual orientation.
Over the years, I’ve been proud to provide a platform for artists to connect with hundreds of thousands of fans. We’ve invested millions of dollars in artist guarantees, and I’ve never censored or restricted a band’s message or voice. Our track record speaks for itself.
Nah, bitch. We don't have shit in common. You can suck a fucking chode, cunt. You sold out your morals for a promised tax break that didn't come. Think about that. You gave up your soul for money. I don't give a fuck what other excuses you say, you turned capitalist, and you can fucking swing for it. Talk about punk rock in the same breath you talk about your tax bracket. Fuck off, you fucking nazi.
- Also:
  We live in a two-party system, and unfortunately, you must choose based on a few important issues that resonate with you.
  No, you must choose based on ALL THE ISSUES. People voting based on whatever wedge issue they were brainwashed to be afraid of is what is driving polarization.
  
  It's like they don't think past what the person says.
  Lots of black men didn't vote for Kamala because she called herself "top cop" at one point, despite never having been negatively influenced by her or any of her policies at all.
  Meanwhile, Fuckface 45 got their friends and family killed by bungling COVID (dismantling the pandemic response teams, because they were implemented by Obama), and he's been a perpetual racist. Those issues aren't issues, somehow.
- Voting for fascists because they promise to lower taxes. So punk.
- I bet this little fucking poser had Minor Threat and MXPX patches on his Jncos back in the day.
promise to end wars
you mean like obama did by (mostly) leaving iraq or biden did by leaving afghanistan or some other thing. also, what war are we currently in?
lower taxes
right. of course. the federal tax rate is at or near its lowest in my decently long lifetime, but sure. of course that's it. it's always it isn't it
stopping government overreach
ah yea trump, who is definitely famous for limiting government, as US troops move into major US cities
I think we all probably have common ground on a lot of big issues like being anti-racism, anti-war, and the belief in human rights for EVERYONE, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other identity.
but muh taxes tho
Supporting an authoritarian regime is not punk. It’s like… 100% the opposite of punk.
Really glad to know there’s not a single band I listen to on that schedule.
- Don't you remember "God Save the Queen"?
  
  I know you’re joking, but Johnny Rotten is unironically a Trump supporter now
For those wondering what bands they should reach out to and question.
Also sad this is posted after the event already happened this weekend.
- Damn, a few of those come as a surprise to me. Welp I needed the extra space on my phone for new music anyway
- wtf are the gold lines all over the place. did the guy give trump a gold sharpie to gild up the design?
- I guess it's a good thing most of my favorite punk bands broke up or no longer tour.
- Ok so bad religion, pennywise, the adicts, comeback kid... Street dogs I think I've heard of?
  The rest are nobody's to me, but I haven't been around the punk seen since leftover crack.
  
  One of those nobodies I’ve heard of and at least has a good song 🤷‍♀️, bigger than kiss by teenage bottle rocket
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EtGIVp91Zy
  
  They're still touring!
so the consensus is that the bands signed up to play before the donation info came out and tickets are non-refundable, so if the bands didnt play it would only be fans who suffered.
… more than 40 punk bands are okay with doing business with Cameron Collins, the founder of Brew Ha Ha Productions, who produces Punk in the Park and also contributed $225 to Trump’s run for President in 2024.
These people were never punk, they're the assholes who think moshing is an excuse to hit people.
- It is fun when those assholes are lurking about and rabbit punching people cos then you actually do have an excuse to wail on someone. And then they are always so fucking stunned that you punched them a bunch forgetting that they were just sucker punching people
Do the bands know? You think they’re going to protest Trump?
This Stiff Little Fingers?
formed in 1977 at the height of the Troubles, which informed much of their songwriting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiff_Little_Fingers
All of their stuff is anti-authoritarian political. https://youtu.be/sPKN19fNoys
So question is how much of this was known before hand?
I mean I have a bit of a hard time believing that those kids are alt-right knowingly at least.
- I remember reading about this a while ago, but this is the first time seeing the line up. Wtf is going on, I'm shocked by some of these names.. bad religion mostly, they seemed really pro education, or.. I thought
  
  So of it wasn't for this article I also would have had no idea because while I'm good for looking up maga businesses before I buy from local stores, even my first thought wouldn't be to look up contributions and political posts for a guy coordinating a punk show before buying a ticket.
  End of the day, disappointing that these bands played for a guy donated 225 bucks to Trump but if they played for this guy again, then they go onto my never listen to legally again list.

26 comments