Help La Murga de Austin recover from assault

UPDATE 1PM CT 9/13/21:  Now that we've passed our initial fundraising goal to cover medical costs, instrument replacement, and missed gig expenses, we'll be donating funds to non-profit projects that support youth musicians in Houston and Austin.

Since La Murga de Austin was formed, our goal has been to create a musical collective that channels passion for soccer towards a project of community building. Unfortunately, bad actors have the opposite vision for soccer. They wish for it to be a platform for hate and violence. We reject that vision.

 

Unfortunately, on Saturday, September 11th, 2021, after a match between Houston Dynamo and Austin FC, a musician with La Murga was threatened, chased, punched in the face, and had their trumpet stolen by a group of bad actors outside of BBVA Stadium in downtown Houston. In addition to a stolen instrument, this attack will result in medical costs, sick leave from work, and missed opportunities to perform for paid gigs in the short term.

 

After being asked within our community and from supporters groups in Houston how they can help, we're crafting this fundraiser with the goal of imagining a Houston vs Austin derby free of violence and full of gameday pageantry and color on both sides. We hope for a future where both teams have large traveling contingents that have mutual respect and appreciation regardless of the city.

 

All the funds raised will go towards the costs of a new trumpet and missing paid gigs. Anything remaining will be donated 50/50 to programs in both Houston and Austin that support musical education for youth.

 

LMdA believes our intra-Texas rivalries can help grow soccer and positive supporter culture in our state. In order for that to happen, we need to create a community of solidarity that rejects violence in fútbol. There is no justification for it. We ask the Houston Dynamo Front Office and MLS to punish and expel bad actors who have established patterns of violence, harassment, and petty theft. We ask MLS to take seriously the safety of traveling supporters by investing more in trained security who can de-escalate violence and proactively preempt conflicts.

 

We hope this fundraiser turns a negative scenario into a positive outcome for both communities in Austin and Houston.

VERDE HASTA LA MUERTE           
PASSION, LOVE & COMMUNITY