Depending on how you look at it, it seems The Amity Affliction’s current tour with Senses Fail have some sort of bad omen since the group Bad Omens dropped off from the trek due to an alleged “font size.” While Bad Omens have resolved the issue by launching a tiny logo t-shirt, it seems another conflict has occurred. The tour kicked off this past Friday (4th) and at their second show of the trek on Saturday (5th) in Las Vegas, The Amity Affliction vocalist Joel Birch called out a fan who was wearing a Trump jersey. While footage of this incident doesn’t appear to exist (yet), the singer has re-addressed the issue via Twitter, explaining:
“What I said tonight was much more balanced than I could have been, and wanted to be. Just like I wouldn’t wear an atheist tee to church, I expect people to exercise a certain decorum when attending our shows. Music has forever been a safe haven for me, and I want our shows to be
A safe haven for others. These shows are no different to church; we sing together, we pour our hearts out, we use it as an escape from the reality of our everyday lives, and it brings us together. Wearing a jersey that you KNOW will be divisive is exactly the opposite of what I stand for as a person. I do not respect your “beliefs.” I do not feel like you have the right to make others uncomfortable by wearing a jersey that may as well be branded with a swastika. I will not remain silent if you come to our shows dressed like that. You can believe whatever you want to believe while you are outside the venue, but don’t you DARE bring your negative energy inside to intimidate and cause discomfort to others. I wish you didn’t like our band. I wish you hadn’t come to the show. I wish you could see the hurt you inflict on those around you from ethnic backgrounds, people of colour, Latinos, Hispanics, cholos, and open minded people who do not espouse your racist garbage. I love Amity fans, they give us this unique and beautiful opportunity to play music, but I WILL NOT stand for people jeopardizing the happiness of others, and ruining their experience at one of our shows. To put it simply, you are not welcome.”
What I said tonight was much more balanced than I could have been, and wanted to be. Just like I wouldn’t wear an atheist tee to church, I expect people to exercise a certain decorum when attending our shows. Music has forever been a safe haven for me, and I want our shows to be
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
A safe haven for others. These shows are no different to church; we sing together, we pour our hearts out, we use it as an escape from the reality of our everyday lives, and it brings us together. Wearing a jersey that you KNOW will be divisive is exactly the opposite
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
Of what I stand for as a person. I do not respect your “beliefs.” I do not feel like you have the right to make others uncomfortable by wearing a jersey that may as well be branded with a swastika. I will not remain silent if you come to our shows dressed like that.
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
You can believe whatever you want to believe while you are outside the venue, but don’t you DARE bring your negative energy inside to intimidate and cause discomfort to others. I wish you didn’t like our band. I wish you hadn’t come to the show. I wish you could see the hurt
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
You inflict on those around you from ethnic backgrounds, people of colour, Latinos, Hispanics, cholos, and open minded people who do not espouse your racist garbage. I love Amity fans, they give us this unique and beautiful opportunity to play music, but I WILL NOT stand for
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
People jeopardizing the happiness of others, and ruining their experience at one of our shows. To put it simply, you are not welcome.
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
Who knows if Birch will call anyone else out as there’s just over one month left of the run.
Check out the remaining tour dates below:
01/08 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live!
01/09 Houston, TX @ House of Blues Houston
01/11 New Orleans, LA @ Joy Theater
01/12 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues Orlando
01/13 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
01/15 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
01/16 Charlotte NC @ The Underground
01/18 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
01/19 Worcester MA @ The Palladium
01/20 Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
01/22 New York, NY @ PlayStation Theater
01/24 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
01/25 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre
01/26 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
01/27 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Cleveland
01/29 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
01/30 Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
02/01 Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
02/02 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex (Grand Room)
02/04 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
02/05 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
02/07 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
02/08 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
02/09 Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
