CHICAGO, IL (CelebrityAccess) – Pitchfork Music Festival has announced that it will be teaming up with RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to raise awareness and funds to support the fight against sexual violence.
The announcement arrives ahead of this year’s event (which will take place July 20-22) and less than a month after a Care2 petition aimed at changing the culture of sexual harassment at musical festivals went live online.
According to a statement on Pitchfork’s website, Pitchfork Music Festival 2018 will have an on-site Resource and Response Center where professionally trained counselors and a dedicated security team will be available to attendees who witness or experience behavior in violation of Pitchfork Music Festival’s Code of Conduct.
In the statement, Pitchfork also went on to apologize for its decision to book R. Kelly as its headliner in 2013.
“In committing to raise awareness for such an important cause, Pitchfork’s editors and festival staff feel it’s appropriate to acknowledge a past mistake. While Kelly has not been charged with any crime since his 2008 acquittal on charges of child pornography, and denies all allegations, an overwhelming number of accusations of sexual abuse have been made against him dating back many years. It was wrong to book R. Kelly to perform at our festival in 2013 and we regret doing so. Pitchfork supports the work of journalists and organizations who have brought the allegations against him to light.”
A portion of the Pitchfork Music Festival’s 2018 proceeds will be donated to RAINN. For more information visit: www.rainn.org.
