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Veterans group issues strong rebuke of South by Southwest band boycotts over US Army sponsorship

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Veterans group issues strong rebuke of South by Southwest band boycotts over US Army sponsorship


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A Veterans Affairs group addressed the boycott by dozens of artists and bands who left the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, in protest of the U.S. Army’s sponsorship, claiming the groups supplied weapons to Israel to support “their violent oppression of the Palestinian people.”

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In February, the Austin for Palestine Coalition launched a campaign that called for a protest and boycott of SXSW because the U.S. Army was a “Super Sponsor” of the event. In response, 80 artists, bands and performers pulled their scheduled appearances as a show of support for Palestinians.

“We are heeding the call of Palestinian civil society to engage in Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israeli occupation and those supplying arms to Israel for its genocide against the Palestinian people,” an Instagram post by the Austin for Palestine Coalition read. “SXSW must disinvite Raytheon (RTX), its subsidiary Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems to the conference and festivals in the city of Austin.”

“Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems have direct ties to the arming of Israel, supporting their violent oppression of the Palestinian people,” the post continued. “Raytheon manufactures missiles, bombs, and other weapon systems for the Israeli military to use against Palestinians.”

A sign in front of Speakeasy on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, on March 11, 2022, welcomes visitors back to SXSW for the first time in three years. (Jim Bennett/WireImage)

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On Tuesday, a few days after the conclusion of SXSW, National Commander Duane Sarmiento of the Veterans of Foreign Wars responded to the boycott, stating the organization “fully supports free speech,” but warned that the artists who pulled out of the festival “missed out on a great opportunity for needed exposure.”

“They seem to have forgotten it’s the good men and women of the U.S. Army who fought and died for their opportunity to perform in the U.S., or not,” he said. “Their decision will have lasting impacts on their careers, and if free speech enthusiasts like Horse Jumper of Love, Squirrel Flower, Lip Critic or any other artist who cancelled their appearance in Austin again get the opportunity to come to our great nation, we invite them to visit with some of our Army veterans to gain some insight into the positive world impacts they’re responsible for.”  

Squirrel Flower, also known as Ella Williams, who was named by Commander Sarmiento, wrote on Instagram on March 4 explaining she was pulling out of the SXSW festival because it was “platforming defense contractors including Raytheon subsidiaries as well as the US Army, a main sponsor of the festival.”

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“Genocide profiteers like Raytheon supply weapons to the IDF, paid for by our taxes,” she wrote. “A music festival should not include war profiteers. I refuse to be complicit in this and withdrawl [sic] my art and labor in protest.”

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From left: Peter Hall, Alex Garland, Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny and Wagner Moura appear at the premiere of “Civil War” as part of SXSW 2024. (Chris Saucedo/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images)

Other artists posted public notices that they were pulling out for similar reasons. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told the bands and performers: “Bye. Don’t come back.”

“We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas. If you don’t like it, don’t come here,” he added. 

SXSW rebuked his statement in a post on Instagram that it “does not agree” with the Texas governor, adding it “welcomes diverse viewpoints” including the decision of performers to withdraw from the event.

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“These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives,” the statement said. “The Army’s sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world.”

A view of 6th Street during the 2023 SXSW Conference and Festivals in Austin, Texas, on March 10, 2023. (Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW)

“We have and will continue to support human rights for all,” the statement concluded. “The situation in the Middle East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened importance of standing together against injustice.”

Fox News Digital reached out to SXSW for comment. 

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Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. 





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Dallas, TX

2 impact players who could be entering their final 2 games as a Dallas Cowboy

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2 impact players who could be entering their final 2 games as a Dallas Cowboy


The 2025 season has been filled with plenty of ups and downs for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a year, but Dallas will ultimately miss the playoffs for the second-straight season.

While the two games left in the regular season don’t mean anything in terms of standings, there are plenty of players on Dallas’ current roster who could be playing their final two games as a Cowboy. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at two impact players who could be suiting up as Cowboys for the final two times in the coming weeks.

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There is no denying that Cowboys’ running back Javonte Williams has had an outstanding 2025 campaign. After a breakout rookie year in 2021, Williams suffered major injuries, including a torn ACL in 2022, and many believed he would never reach his top form again.

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Dallas took a chance on the 25-year-old running back, signing him to a one-year deal in hopes that he still had some juice left in the tank. The move turned out to be one of Dallas’ best of the offseason, as Williams has put together a career year in his fifth season in the league.

On the year, Williams is fourth in the NFL in first downs rushing, sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,147), tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (10) to go with a career-high 56.1% Rushing Success Rate. Williams has slowed down considerably in the second half of the season, averaging just 4.2 Y/A over his last four games. Still, those shortcomings are more a product of the recent struggles of Dallas’s offensive line, which has been a very inconsistent unit over the past four to five weeks.

Williams has been a diamond in the rough find for Dallas’ front office, but his outstanding 2025 campaign could price him out of a return to the Cowboys. While the 2026 free agent running back market does include some capable players (Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker), Williams will still be a hot commodity for running back-needy teams.

At just 25-years-old, at least one team will likely be willing to offer Williams a multi-year contract. Spotrac projects the running back to earn a three-year, $22M deal on the open market. While $7M a year isn’t a huge number, with all of Dallas’ needs to address elsewhere on the roster, it seems unlikely they would seriously consider bringing Williams back to Dallas at that number.

If Williams has found a home in Dallas and is willing to take a more modest number to remain here, he may stay. If he’s looking to cash in on his career-changing year, which he almost certainly will be, there’s a very good chance he’s about to play his final two games as a Cowboy.

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When the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark back at the beginning of September, the 30-year-old veteran had big shoes to fill. While no one expected Clark to replicate Micah Parsons’ production on Dallas’ defense, Clark filled a big need the Cowboys had at defensive tackle and figured to be a guy who could make a significant impact right away.

With how bad the Cowboys’ defense has been as a whole, Clark’s season has gone a bit unnoticed, but the 10-year veteran has had a very productive year. When Dallas acquired Clark, they knew he would be solid against the run, but questions remained about whether he had anything left in the tank as a pass rusher. Surprisingly, Clark has turned back the clock a bit this year and has been a more than adequate pass-rushing defensive tackle.

In 15 games, Clark has recorded 43 total pressures, 33 QB Hurries, and four sacks, via Pro Football Focus. With two more games to add to these totals, Clark will likely finish with the second-most pressures, hurries, and sacks in his last four seasons. While the totals aren’t close to his star-studded 2023 campaign, they are still impressive for a veteran interior defensive linemen.

Clark has had a more than acceptable first season in Dallas, but his long-term future as a Cowboy is anything but certain. With the Cowboys acquiring star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, there’s a chance Dallas will not be able to afford to keep Clark, Williams, and 27-year-old Osa Odighizuwa all on their roster in 2026.

Of those three, Clark is the most obvious choice if Dallas is going to cut ties with one of the defensive tackles. The way Clark’s contract is structured, the Cowboys can get out of the deal this offseason with no penalty. If Dallas were to cut Clark (pre or post June 1), they would incur no dead money and save $21M against the cap this year and $20M in 2027.

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As mentioned above, the Cowboys have so many other needs to address on their roster this offseason, keeping Clark at a $21.5M cap number just does not feel like a realistic option. Dallas could restructure the veteran’s contract to lower his 2026 cap number and keep him as a Cowboy for the remainder of his deal, but the more likely scenario seems to be Dallas releasing him at some point next summer.



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Miami, FL

Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins Game Predictions

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Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins Game Predictions


What are your predictions for the upcoming game between your Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Achane 110yds, 2 TDs

Ewers 290yds, 1 TD, 1 interception

Waller 87yds, 1 TD

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Final score?

Bucs 38, Dolphins 🐬 28

MVP of the game?

TE Waller

Other bold predictions?

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Defense: 3 sacks, 1 interception, gives up 120 yds ground… 310 air



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Atlanta, GA

Officer shoots armed man late Wednesday night in NW Atlanta, police say

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Officer shoots armed man late Wednesday night in NW Atlanta, police say


An officer working an off-duty assignment shot an armed man late Christmas Eve after responding to reports of a woman being chased and shot at an apartment complex in northwest Atlanta, according to Atlanta Police Department.

What we know:

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According to preliminary information, the incident happened around 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 24 at The Commons apartment complex, located in the 3000 block of Middleton Road NW. An officer working an extra job at the complex reported hearing gunshots and was then flagged down by two people who said a man with a gun was chasing a woman and had shot her.

Police said the officer encountered the armed suspect and issued multiple verbal commands to drop the weapon. Investigators say the suspect did not comply, and the officer fired their weapon, striking the suspect.

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Other officers responded to the scene and rendered aid. The suspect was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. 

What we don’t know:

No information has been released about the condition of the woman involved or whether she was injured.

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What’s next:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene and is leading the investigation, as is standard in officer-involved shootings. Police emphasized that the information released so far is preliminary and may change as the investigation continues.

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