an anonymously submitted reportback from the punk show noise demo
In solidarity with the Prairieland Defendants who have been wrongfully convicted of federal terrorism-related charges for protesting the abductions, detentions, and deportations of immigrants, and in defiance of the actions of the US & Israel, a noise demonstration punk show coalesced on the sidewalk in front of Capital Factory inside the Omni hotel in downtown Austin on March 14th to disrupt the meeting of war profiteers and surveillance tech companies who collaborate with ICE taking place inside.
A generator and musical gear arrived and was quickly set up behind the proudly displayed banners that read “CAPITAL FACTORY: BUILDING YOUR NIGHTMARES OF MASS SURVEILLANCE AND AI WEAPONS,” “PALANTIR SUX, FUCK YOU!” and “FREE THE PRAIRIELAND DEFENDANTS.” The squeal of amplified guitars and the thrashing of drums quickly burst through the air to the annoyance of the pathetic and desperate Capital Factory attendees, several of whom attempted to direct their undignified and petty anger at those having a good time. No one could hear them anyway.
People brought and waved multiple large Palestinian flags making our position clear to the thousands of SXSW attendees walking by and waiting in line across the street. Someone in medieval garb wielding a ball and chain as well as a large sword screamed into the streets over a megaphone demanding the liberation of the Palestinian people and freedom for the Prairieland Defendants.
As the punk bands raged, people ran around jumping and dancing and shouting for justice, continuously making noise in solidarity with our Prairieland comrades and those across the globe similarly facing state repression, violence, and dispossession. Throughout the evening, fliers with the faces, names, and companies of prominent Capital Factory House participants were handed out. The flier read: “War Profiteers: gotta catch ‘em all!” People from the streets honked their horns, shouted “Free Palestine!” and came to dance and make noise in solidarity. After the bands wrapped up, the noise demo became mobile and took to the street with banners and flags, shouting, banging, and blowing on whistles to instill the presence of resistance in our community.