A statement regarding the call to boycott Elsewhere:
Content warning: sexual violence, impunity, ignoring survivors, perpetuating rape culture

On 4/26/19 a coalition of concerned allies (CCA) issued a call for allies of rape survivors to boycott Elsewhere, a popular nightclub in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Since 2017, Elsewhere has been aware that one of their investors is a serial rapist. Over the past two years, management received several messages which detailed his actions and use of date-rape drugs, to which the club never once responded. After this information became public, Elsewhere released an online statement (still without speaking to survivors) claiming that the investor was gone; however, employees of the venue articulated conflicting information suggesting that this might not be the case.

With the solidarity of several bands who either pulled out of their shows or demonstrated their support in other ways, in addition to the persistence of survivors and their allies, Elsewhere finally released a statement 6/15 saying that it would meet the central demand of the boycott and sit down with survivors and their allies. We spent three months in a restorative justice process facilitated by the New York Peace Institute, preparing for our meeting with Elsewhere. The night before our scheduled meeting, Elsewhere canceled the meeting and has since ceased communication with the CCA.

Elsewhere regularly identifies as a "community space," yet refuses to engage with concerned community members. Elsewhere claims to have “respect for all people and art, and a desire to support and grow the community that makes it possible.” But this has not held true: Elsewhere continues to ignore our messages via email and social media, spread misinformation to musicians who express concern, and, perhaps most egregiously, profit off their progressive branding that falsely claims Elsewhere is a "safe space." 

We want transparency from Elsewhere. Until the club’s leadership decides to engage in an accountability meeting with us, to share proof of their claims made on 4/26 and to apologize for ignoring survivors, we invite all artists, DJs, performers, party promoters, and dancers to continue to #DanceAnywhereElse and #BoycottElsewhere.

You can find more information here at bitly.com/boycottelsewhere, as well as a complete timeline of our actions here.

For any questions and/or concerns, feel free to contact the Coalition of Concerned Allies at concernedallies@gmail.com 

***Follow @boycott_elsewhere on Instagram for the most up-to-date information***