Coachella owner donated tens of thousands to anti-abortion right-wing group
Coachella owner continues to make huge Republican donations despite years of criticism (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The company behind Coachella has given thousands of dollars to a right-wing group fuelling anti-abortion efforts.
In a report by Rolling Stone, it was found that The Anschutz Corporation, which owns Coachella’s parent company AEG Presents, donated $75,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) just days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.
RAGA claims it aims to “elect and re-elect Republican attorneys general nationally”, and holds an anti-abortion stance.
The organisation claimed after Roe v Wade was overturned, putting abortion rights at risk throughout the United States, that “every donation will help Republican Attorneys General combat the Democrats’ pro-abortion agenda and stand tall for life.”
The report also revealed that The Anschutz Corporation donated to two Republican super PACs in March – the Senate Leadership Fund and the House Leadership Fund – both of which aim to expand the Republican Senate majority.
A view of the crowd during Coachella 2018 (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)
The donation report comes after years of criticism for funding Republican and anti-LGBTQ+ groups by The Anschutz Corporation.
In January 2018, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton warned Coachella attendees that profits from their tickets could fund “anti-LGBT and anti-abortion politicians” after it was found that Anschutz Corporation owner Philip Anschutz gave $187,300 to politicians who are vocally against same-sex marriage and anti-abortion.
“Just your second annual reminder that while Coachella is a super fun time, proceeds from your tickets will in all likelihood go to fund anti-LGBT and anti-abortion politicians in a very important mid-term year,” Hilton wrote in a blog post at the time.
“AEG owner Philip Anschutz is a massive donor to conservative Republicans, who regularly gives hundreds of thousands to GOP politicians.”
Anschutz went on to deny Hilton’s 2018 claims, stating that he “unequivocally supports the rights of all people”.
The Anschutz Corporation said in a statement to Rolling Stone that Anschutz “believes in a woman’s right to choose and did not support the reversal of Roe”.
It added: “Neither The Anschutz Corporation, or Mr. Anschutz, received, saw or was aware of a… RAGA fundraising solicitation based on the reversal of Roe v. Wade.”
They added that the donation was not “based upon, informed by, or motivated by any RAGA position on Roe or abortion”.
