Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, shocked San Antonio by announcing a July 4 concert at the Alamodome. The city was divided, and the rift widened when Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones called for the concert to be canceled due to the rapper’s history of antisemitism. However, it seems that at least one member of City Council is ready to attend.
The concert appears to be moving forward after a majority of City Council signed a joint statement on Tuesday, June 23, denouncing hate and division but opposing the idea that it should be canceled, citing free speech and economic impact.
“We can condemn hate without resorting to censorship, which could set a precedent toward limiting expression based on objectionable viewpoints,” the statement read in part. “The City does not endorse his rhetoric by allowing use of a public venue, just as a public library does not endorse every book’s viewpoint simply by carrying it.”
San Antonio mayor claims councilwoman who refused cancellation took free Ye tickets
However, Jones told KSAT 12 on Tuesday that she and members of city council were all offered free tickets — and that one of the members who signed the statement asked for three seats. Speaking to evening anchor Ernie Zuniga, Jones claimed that when a city staffer sent an email to the mayor and City Council offering seats, “Councilwoman [Misty] Spears said, ‘I’ll take three tickets.'”
Spears’ signature appears on the joint statement alongside Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Dr. Sukh Kaur, Marina Alderete Gavito, Teri Castillo and Marc Whyte. In a separate statement on Monday, June 22, McKee-Rodriguez also said he “was offered tickets to Ye’s upcoming concert in San Antonio and declined” due to the rapper’s history of “promotion of Nazi imagery, rhetoric, and ideology.”
Also on Monday, Spears spoke up on social media “while visiting Israel,” saying Ye’s words should be “condemned without hesitation.” However, her statement also said that the First Amendment “protects offensive speech, not just popular speech” and that the government should not involve itself in suppressing viewpoints unless they pose a safety risk.
“Going forward, I will advocate for San Antonio to be thoughtful about the entertainers and events the City chooses to promote, sponsor, or partner with,” Spears said. “San Antonio should strive to welcome artists who bring people together- not those whose public platforms are built on antisemitism, racism, or other forms of hate. We can make those choices without compromising the constitutional rights that belong to every American.”
A spokesperson for Jones told MySA via email, “The Alamodome is a city-funded facility, and it is my understanding that it is customary that the Mayor and Council are offered tickets to events there. The mayor will not be attending the Ye concert given his recent record of antisemitic hate speech.”
MySA reached out to Spears’ office, but did not immediately receive a response.
Editor’s Note: The story was updated to provide a statement from the mayor.