Riot Fest 2021 tickets went on sale in May 2021, well before the Delta variant began spreading widely in the US. Riot Fest's strict no-refund and no-transfer policy for domestically-purchased tickets, while reasonable under normal circumstances, is no longer reasonable given the severity of the pandemic in the country. These policies encourage people who aren't feeling well to attend the festival, and endanger patrons who are immunocompromised. The COVID-19 testing policy instituted by Riot Fest is not sufficient for the protection of the most vulnerable show-goers - fully vaccinated individuals can still become infected with and transmit COVID-19, especially the Delta variant of the coronavirus (per the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/fully-vaccinated-people.html). However, to attend the festival, fully vaccinated people are not required to submit a negative COVID-19 test.

We write this petition not to push for the festival to be canceled or postponed, but to ask that the return and transfer policy for tickets be relaxed. There are plenty of responsible ticket holders who will safely attend Riot Fest, and we stand in support of their right to enjoy the festival. We simply ask that Riot Fest allow for refunds or transfers of tickets purchased due to the unexpected revival of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. We understand that this request violates the terms and conditions of ticket purchases. However, Riot Fest is often marketed to be a celebration of counterculture. The lack of compassion in these strict policies undermines the very culture that Riot Fest claims to promote - one centering inclusion, fairness, and safety.