At a panel discussion on "Music and Politics" at the Folk Alliance 1999 conference, several panelists and audience members agreed that the folk scene had become too insular and musically conservative.

I would hope that at least some of those folk performers with FA associations, who are also known for having a strong social conscience, will come out in opposition to the executive committee's decision. Steve Earle, who gave such a passionate performance on the above mentioned panel, immediately springs to mind. But there are many others.

Let us hope that enough pressure can be brought to bear on the FA executive committee by the membership, well-known folkies, and conference sponsors concerned with losing business, that they will change the decision to hold the conference at Adams Mark, and violate the NAACP boycott.