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

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.

1. Supporting an authoritarian regime is not punk. It’s like… 100% the opposite of punk.

2. Really glad to know there’s not a single band I listen to on that schedule.

For those wondering what bands they should reach out to and question.

Also sad this is posted after the event already happened this weekend.

… 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. 

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.

Do the bands know? You think they’re going to protest Trump?

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

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.

These people were never punk, they’re the assholes who think moshing is an excuse to hit people.

A good punk band would perform just to play songs that shit all over the audience and be disruptive. Like that LGBTQ band that got hired for some other GOP thing and ended up getting kicked out half through a song about a trans kid after putting on a pride hat.

Really disappointed to see Pennywise on there, I feel like most of those bands are just ignorant of the promoters views.

Fucking hope so at least

Surely Greg Graffin doesn’t support Trump and would openly say so during his set.

The organizer donated $255 to Trumps campaign… It’s not good, and there’s certainly a line to be drawn in doing business with non-politically aligned folk, especially when it comes to the punk ethos. However, remember the enemey isn’t your neighbor who voted for Trump. And it’s not even the $400k/yr income business owner or tech bro in the fancy neighborhood across the street. It’s the leisure class billionaires and oligarch fascists that have more money than God and don’t lift a finger to whipe their own asses.

Sometimes your neighbors are stupid and sometimes they work against their own self interest. It’s frustrating, but remember who the real enemy is. I don’t expect bands to be doing background checks on all of the people they do business with. $255 would easily go unnoticed unless this dude is a raging asshole/MAGA/political activist but I highly doubt that.