Music

Bands are speaking out against Vans Warped Tour's pro-life tent

by Tyler Munro

Earlier this summer, we reported that the Vans Warped Tour had inexplicably given a voice to Rock for Life, pro-life propagandists whose violent, dangerous ideals frankly hold no place at a (would-be) inclusive punk rock environment.

While Warped Tour head-honcho Kevin Lyman insisted that he was open to having a larger pro-choice presence at the festival, citing, among other things, Rock for Life’s freedom of expression, or whatever, the fact remained: Impressionable teens, already susceptible to terrible haircuts and worse breakdowns, were being inundated by an incredibly volatile rhetoric.

Luckily, bands on the tour are speaking out. On Twitter, Safe to Say, a band of good ol’ Canadian boys, responded to Rock for Life, who had asked whether they had truly spoken out against them on stage:

Their fans, like us, were grateful to have them speak up:

“Please keep speaking up for us,” read one reply. “There’s enough ppl telling me what to do with my body on a regular basis,” read another. “Don’t need the message spread to another.”

Old Wounds, from New Jersey, are doing the same.

Following last year’s festival, which left accused sexual predator Front Porch Step perform in spite of all good judgement, Rock For Life’s presence is a nothing damning blotch on Warped Tour’s worsening stock. While we believe that Kevin Lyman welcomes the dialogue, we also think it’s irresponsible to give credence to an organization like Rock for Life, so we’re proud that the scene many of us were born out of is standing tall and speaking out.

Rock for Life’s responses have, obviously, been terrible. From shaming rape victims to pushing their equally gross All Lives Matter shirts (because, fuck, of course they have All Lives Matter shirts). Then again, it’s not like you can expect much better from an organization that proudly promotes pictures like this to spread their message: