Several bands have avoided an upcoming metal festival to protest organizers who billed them alongside Kyle Rittenhouse, the gunman who shot protesters at a racial justice rally in 2020.

According to Loudwire, Shell Shock II, scheduled for October 19 in Orlando, Florida, had announced a special guest appearance by Rittenhouse, prompting headliner Evergreen Terrace to pull out of the event.

At least three other acts – Southpaw, Let Me Bleed and American Hollow – have since followed suit, apparently forcing organizers to relegate a Slipknot cover band to the top spot.

Rittenhouse rose to fame four years ago when, at just 17 years old, he traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, ostensibly to protect stores in the city from looters as protests erupted following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

After shooting three people during the riots, two of whom died, Rittenhouse later successfully claimed self-defense and was acquitted of all charges.

The case catapulted Rittenhouse to stardom on the right, as he appeared on shows alongside Tucker Carlson and even met with then-President Donald Trump, who described him as a “really nice young man.”

“Evergreen Terrace has always supported and continues to support philanthropic events for veterans, education about post-traumatic stress disorder, child poverty and much more,” the former headliner wrote on Facebook. “But we will not join an event that ensures that murderers like Kyle Rittenhouse capitalize on their pseudo-fame.”

The band added that the festival had since offered to remove Rittenhouse from the lineup, but they stood their ground after later discovering “several affiliates” that we simply disagree with.

Despite Evergreen Terrace’s claim that Shell Shock II offered to remove Rittenhouse’s appearance from the program, The Antihero Podcast – which hosts the event – apparently issued a statement doubling down on his opinion.

“We are preparing. “The liberal mob tried to destroy Shell Shock,” reads a post on the podcast’s Instagram account. “We won’t allow it. This is about more than just a concert. This is a war of ideology.”