The Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building will host The Exploited despite criticism regarding lead singer Wattie Buchan's alleged connections to Nazi groups. Venue director Dave Ramos emphasized that supporting free expression does not equate to endorsing any specific views, and he repudiated the notion of canceling the show. The band's long history of anti-authority punk music has attracted controversy, particularly around Buchan's past associations with extremist groups and imagery. The venue sees this concert as a reflection of the values veterans fought to uphold, advocating for artistic freedom amidst rising backlash.
"Supporting free expression does not mean endorsing any particular viewpoint—it means allowing individuals to engage with art, music, and ideas on their own terms."
"I stand by our decision to hold the show as scheduled because if we start cherry-picking who we do and do not allow to exercise their rights to free expression, we aren't upholding the values that we, as Veterans, fought for."
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