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SXSW: Willie Nelson, Demi Lovato series and so much more in just first announcements
There's nothing Austinites look forward to more than South by Southwest, and this year, the annual event returns as a digital experience.
SXSW Online, an exclusive digital experience, will take place from March 16-20.
SXSW Conference announced Austin local Willie Nelson as the event's keynote speaker, along with featured speakers Queen Latifah, The Chainsmokers, Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Bee, Sir Richard Branson and many more.
We just announced more than 200 Conference sessions, over 50 Featured Speakers, and 1 legendary Keynote for #SXSW O… https://t.co/kZGlJmceRD— SXSW (@SXSW) 1610591702.0
More than 200 conference sessions were curated for this year's festival via PanelPicker on seven different themes: A New Urgency, Challenging Tech's Path Forward, Cultural Resilience in the Arts, The Rebirth of Business, Transforming the Entertainment Landscape, Connection in Disconnection and An Uncharted Future.
Sessions include speakers from well-known companies, universities and creative industries such as the University of Texas, Billboard, Black Women Make Art, Condé Nast, Harvard Medical School, Indeed, NASA, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Patreon, SiriusXM, Twitter and many more.
Along with speakers, SXSW has announced Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, her latest docuseries, as a headliner on the opening night of SXSW Film Festival. Other highlight films include Hysterical, Confronting a Serial Killer, The Hunt for Planet B, Jakob's Wife, Luchadoras, Recovery and Violet. The full film festival lineup will be released Feb. 10.
We're thrilled to share a preview of the 28th annual #SXSWFilm Festival including the World Premiere of Demi Lovato… https://t.co/deBcu4QzeB— SXSW (@SXSW) 1610650919.0
Registration is open now for the SXSW online pass for $249. The pass covers the entire digital experience including conference keynotes and speaker sessions, workshops, SXSW Film festival, musical performances, online exhibitions, networking meetups, professional development and more. You can register online here.
After the cancelation of the 2020 SXSW due to the pandemic, Austinites can look forward to a safe digital experience from home. The festival has not yet announced any in-person events this year due to the COVID-19 surge in Austin, but originally announced it would be a hybrid of in-person and virtual events in the fall last year.
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(We Are Blood/Instagram)
Communities are rallying together after an 18-year-old shot and killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Funds from organizations all around the state–including from Austin’s own Los Verdes–are being raised to support families affected by the tragedy. Here's how you can help.
Donate blood
If you are looking for ways to help, please consider donating blood. Your donation can help ensure we have supplies immediately available for the victims of this tragic shooting.
— University Health (@UnivHealthSA) May 24, 2022
Our donor room has availability the rest of the week. Please schedule online: https://t.co/0F2lKDqYzO
Austin-area residents can donate blood with We Are Blood.
South Texas Blood & Tissue was able to send a total of 25 units of blood both to the school and local hospitals to support treatment. After an emergency blood drive on Wednesday, the blood center is hosting a Memorial Day blood drive and should have appointments opening the following week.
The largest blood transfuser in the San Antonio area, the University Health System, is also asking members of the community to donate blood. Appointments may be scarce due to demand.
Donate
The Los Verdes community is heartbroken at today's senseless act of gun violence in Uvalde that ended 15 lives too early. We are currently raising funds to support the families who lost loved ones today, and you can join by donating here. https://t.co/52L1ZtbSND
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) May 24, 2022
There is a growing list of verified fundraisers through GoFundMe, where almost $2 million has been raised so far for families and victims of the tragedy.
- The VictimsFirst fundraiser is raising $2 million to provide “100% of what is collected” to the victims’ family members.
- Austin-based Los Verdes Supporter Group is raising $100,000 for the families “affected by the horrific school shooting at Robb Elementary.”
- Allison McCullough, the aunt of victim Makenna Lee Elrod, is raising $50,000 for her family.
- The Alithia Ramirez funeral fund is working on raising $8,000 for the young girl’s funeral.
- More are being added by the hour.
Additionally, both Rushing-Estes Mortuary Uvalde and Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home are offering free services to families of the victims.
Other fundraisers
An official account with First State Bank has been set up for donations through UCISD to assist the families of this tragedy.
— Uvalde CISD (@Uvalde_CISD) May 25, 2022
Please know that the FSB account, is the only verified location to make any monetary donations. No other source is currently recognized. pic.twitter.com/psQb6fD6Ls
Uvalde CISD has opened an account to support families of the victims with the First State Bank of Uvalde. Checks to donate should be made payable to the "Robb School Memorial Fund" or through Zelle at robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com.
The League of United Latin American Citizens has created a fund for victims, which it says will donate 100% to families and University Health has also organized the Uvalde Victims Relief Fund to help provide care for victims.
H-E-B has also donated $500,000 to aid victims and is collecting donations for its Spirit of Giving Fund, which supports philanthropic efforts in the wake of Texas tragedies. Starting Wednesday, shoppers at H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop and Mi Tienda can donate at checkout or online.
(Sergio Flores/The Texas Tribune)
By Patrick Svitek
Beto O'Rourke caused a dramatic scene on Wednesday when he angrily confronted Gov. Greg Abbott at his news conference about the Uvalde school shooting, yelling, "This is on you."
After Abbott was done giving his initial remarks, O'Rourke approached the stage and told Abbott he was "doing nothing" to combat gun violence. He said the Uvalde massacre, in which a gunman killed 19 children and two adults, was "totally predictable."
Some of the Republican officials onstage with Abbott quickly denounced O'Rourke, telling him to go away. Another man onstage used expletives to criticize O'Rourke for interrupting the event. O'Rourke was eventually escorted away amid the unruly scene.
“I can’t believe that you’re a sick son of a bitch that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin told O'Rourke at one point.
.@BetoORourke just showed up and shook things up. @statesmanpic.twitter.com/Z1FtBwUEdJ
— Luz Moreno-Lozano 🦇 (@LuzMorenoLozano) May 25, 2022
