The San Antonio City Council is divided over whether to cancel Ye’s upcoming concert at the Alamodome. Despite Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ call to cancel the show due to Ye’s past antisemitic remarks, six council members have issued a statement opposing censorship.
Free Speech Concerns
The council members argue that condemning hate speech does not require canceling the concert, as this could set a precedent for limiting free expression. They emphasize that the city does not endorse Ye’s views by allowing him to use a public venue, just as a public library does not endorse every book’s viewpoint by carrying it.
The concert is expected to bring in significant revenue, with approximately $1.7 million in revenue and a 22% increase in hotel reservations in the area. The show has already sold close to 50,000 tickets, with about 14,000 from Bexar County and 23,000 from other Texas counties.
First Amendment Implications
A national free-speech organization, The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), has weighed in on the issue, stating that the city-owned venue cannot deny access based on a performer’s views. According to FIRE’s director of public advocacy, Aaron Terr, the Alamodome is subject to the First Amendment and cannot cancel the show without violating Ye’s free speech rights.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
