Downtown Austin protesters decry homeless sweeps ahead of SXSW

Advocacy group says festival preparations have led to increased efforts to remove people from downtown areas.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:51pm

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A group of protesters in downtown Austin rallied against homeless encampment sweeps and service disruptions they say are happening ahead of the South by Southwest festival. Members of the advocacy group VOCAL-TX said the annual event has led to an increase in efforts to remove homeless individuals from downtown areas and the closure of a nonprofit that works to prevent and end homelessness.

Why it matters

The protest highlights the tensions between the needs of the city's homeless population and the demands of hosting a major event like SXSW. Critics argue the sweeps unfairly target the homeless, while the city says the cleanups are done compassionately and with advance notice to allow people to gather their belongings.

The details

Protesters held signs reading "Sweep the billionaires, not the homeless" and set up a mock encampment to illustrate what homeless people have lost during the cleanups. A city spokesperson said the encampment cleanups happen weekly and that residents are notified in advance, with support services offered to those willing to accept them. Austin voters approved a ban on public camping in 2021, leading to a $830,000 initiative this past fall to move people into shelters ahead of winter.

  • The protest took place on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • The Caritas nonprofit announced its offices, community kitchen and downtown pantry would be closed March 12-13 and March 16-17 due to SXSW road closures.

The players

VOCAL-TX

An advocacy group for low-income people that organized the protest against the homeless encampment sweeps.

Eli Cortez

An organizer with VOCAL-TX who spoke at the protest.

Caritas

A nonprofit that works to prevent and end homelessness, which had to close its offices, community kitchen and downtown pantry during SXSW due to road closures.

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What’s next

The city said it will continue its weekly encampment cleanups, providing advance notice to residents. The impact of the sweeps and service disruptions on the homeless population during SXSW will likely continue to be a point of tension and debate in the city.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing challenges Austin faces in balancing the needs of its homeless population with the demands of hosting major events like SXSW. While the city says the cleanups are done compassionately, advocates argue they unfairly target the homeless and disrupt vital services during a critical time.