Rise Against respond to military sponsorship controversy

Rise Against has posted a response to Florida Radio Station BUZZ103’s criticisms that the band would not allow the army to sponsor the stage they were performing on. They explained:

As the [Buzz Bake Sale in West Palm Beach, FL] closed in, we discovered that we were scheduled to headline a stage sponsored by the US Army’s Recruitment Dept. As a band that has worked in counter-recruitment in the past, we decided it would be hypocritical and inappropriate for us to headline this stage.

To be clear, this was not an event to honor the military, this was an event that the US ARMY was interested in recruiting people at, and we felt that our fans should be free from that interference at a rock show on a Sunday night in a time of war. Recruiters are a part of the military that even many members of the military will admit their distaste for their documented unethical tactics.

We asked if something could be done, and when we were told no, we respectfully bowed out of the unannounced show for obvious reasons, and left it at that. We assumed the station was depending on the financial support of the sponsor and so we held no grudge.

Thinking that was the end of it, the radio station retaliated. In an act reminiscent of McCarthyism witch-hunts, the radio station has come to the unfounded, false and irresponsible conclusion that Rise Against is “against the army” and, as of this morning, has decided to spread this misinformation over the airwaves, threaten to not play songs, and call for a boycott of Rise Against. Listening to the broadcast, we were surprised at willingness of the DJ’s to spin off of a lie. At no point did they consider the information simply wasn’t true. In addition to a number of lies, they even decided to tell their listeners that we said “F-U to the army” from the stage at past Buzz Bake Sales, something that simply isn’t true and that we would never do.”

You can find more details here.
Source Rise Against has posted a response to Florida Radio Station BUZZ103’s criticisms that the band would not allow the army to sponsor the stage they were performing on. They explained:

As the [Buzz Bake Sale in West Palm Beach, FL] closed in, we discovered that we were scheduled to headline a stage sponsored by the US Army’s Recruitment Dept. As a band that has worked in counter-recruitment in the past, we decided it would be hypocritical and inappropriate for us to headline this stage.

To be clear, this was not an event to honor the military, this was an event that the US ARMY was interested in recruiting people at, and we felt that our fans should be free from that interference at a rock show on a Sunday night in a time of war. Recruiters are a part of the military that even many members of the military will admit their distaste for their documented unethical tactics.

We asked if something could be done, and when we were told no, we respectfully bowed out of the unannounced show for obvious reasons, and left it at that. We assumed the station was depending on the financial support of the sponsor and so we held no grudge.

Thinking that was the end of it, the radio station retaliated. In an act reminiscent of McCarthyism witch-hunts, the radio station has come to the unfounded, false and irresponsible conclusion that Rise Against is “against the army” and, as of this morning, has decided to spread this misinformation over the airwaves, threaten to not play songs, and call for a boycott of Rise Against. Listening to the broadcast, we were surprised at willingness of the DJ’s to spin off of a lie. At no point did they consider the information simply wasn’t true. In addition to a number of lies, they even decided to tell their listeners that we said “F-U to the army” from the stage at past Buzz Bake Sales, something that simply isn’t true and that we would never do.”

You can find more details here.
Source

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