Moogfest Will Have a Protest Stage at This Year's Festival

Durham experimental music festival Moogfest today announced that it will host a special "Protest Stage" at this year's festival opposing discriminatory policies that are sweeping across the US. In an open letter to artists, technologists, and activists around the world, the festival announced that the dedicated space for resistance will be held in response to Trump's recent travel ban on immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries. It will also protest the possible spread of laws like North Carolina's House Bill 2 a.k.a. the "bathroom bill" to other states; the law eliminated anti-discrimination for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, and mandated that transgender people use bathrooms matching the gender assigned to them at birth.

"We are alive in our mission to bring the dream of a more equal society to all humans," the organizers said in the letter. "We seek out facts, respect evidence-based science, and welcome a wide-open worldview. We believe this base of knowledge powers creativity, imagination, and innovation."

Additionally, the stage is in support of the January 21 Women's March's mission: "together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us." Moogfest's organizers are also encouraging fans of the festival to write to North Carolina politicians via EqualityNC and Democracy.io in opposition the bathroom bill and other discriminatory laws.

"We also stand with those who have been continuing to protest over the last few weeks," Moogfest said. "The intersectionality of those participating in these protests makes it clear that we cannot turn inwards, and we cannot exist solely for the individual."

The festival has not yet announced who will perform on the Protest Stage, but will soon through its newsletter.

Moor Mother, Wolf Eyes, and Laraaji are some of the artists that have so far been announced as part of this year's program. The festival will take place from May 18–21, and tickets are available now.

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