In a post that shadows the sentiment from our open letter to lawmakers, Insomniac CEO Pasquale Rotella urges policy makers to analyze the true effects of banning electronic music festivals before taking action.
Stemming from the tragic events that transpired at this year’s HARD Summer Festival, this is a topic that has recently been in the hot seat.
Rotella states:
“First and foremost, my heart goes out to the friends and family of those two young women. We don’t condone or tolerate drug use, but the problem here isn’t raves or dance music, or even festivals in general. The health impact of drug abuse in our country extends far beyond what happens at our events. I lost five friends to drug overdoses at a young age, none of which occurred at dance music festivals; most of them weren’t even fans of the genre. No one wrote about them.
Dance culture has survived for decades and has never been more popular. Banning these events at facilities where we are able to provide first-rate medical care and emergency services is not the answer. I hope that policymakers and the media do not turn their backs on a cultural movement that is thriving and brings so much happiness to a generation that, quite frankly, needs an environment where they can feel loved and accepted. Most just want healthy interaction with their peers.
I know that if I didn’t have access to this community growing up, my life would have taken a much different turn. I see nothing but great opportunity within large gatherings; opportunity to promote health, happiness, individuality, and human connection.
If we’re trying to create a safe and secure environment for these passionate fans, sending them back into the unregulated underground isn’t a step in the right direction. We all need to do our part in creating a national dialogue that educates our youth and encourages them to be accountable for their choices—especially when it comes to drugs.”
With Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis calling for a temporary ban on raves on county property, Rotella echoes the thoughts presented in our open letter.
Put simply, bans are not the answer.
Education and community, however, just might be. Only time will tell, but we wholeheartedly agree that sending these events back to the unregulated underground is definitely a step in the wrong direction.
Read our full dissection of the topic with An Open Letter to Lawmakers: Why Banning EDM Events is Not the Answer and click here for more of the latest EDM info, announcements, and news.
