The Love Music Hate Racism Carnival!

It's Londons biggest anti-racist event ever and the entree to the Carnival is free! 

Organisers of this expect that the event will attract over 100,000 people. And the message is clear- we want to celebrate the diversity of London and urge people to vote against the fascists in next week's London elections.

Some 30 years ago a group of political activists got together with a group of musicians to form Rock Against Racism. It was a movement formed in reaction to rising xenophobia and racism fuelled by Nazi organisations like the National Front.

Bands like The Clash, Steel Pulse and the Tom Robinson Band, to name but a few, helped create a political movement among music fans. The most memorable event was the Rock Against Racism “Carnival against the Naz.is” in April 1978. A huge rally of 100,000 people marched the six miles from Trafalgar Square through London’s East End – the heart of National Front territory – to a Rock Against Racism concert in Victoria Park. The concert and march spelled the beginning of the end for the NF in the face of a young and diverse mass movement.

On three stages – two live outdoor stages + big dance marquee you got this great line up:

The Good The Bad The Queen with ex The Clash Paul Simonon  , Hard-Fi, Roll Deep, Helsinki – Drew McConnell of Babyshambles & friends ft very special guests including Jimmy Pursey (Sham 69), Poly Styrene (X Ray Spex), John McClure (Reverend and the Makers), Fyfe (Guillemots), Ed Larrikin, Shingai/Jamie/Dan (Noisettes), Rock Against Racism All-Stars, Jay Sea, The View, Jerry Dammers (ex-The Specials), Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly, Wiley, Akala, Nihal, Dennis Bovell's London Lovers' Rock Crew, Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex), Tinchy Stryder, The Paddingtons, Patrick Wolf, Natty, Skream & Benga, Don Letts, Ace & Vis Jocelyn Brown, Heartless Crew, Snakeyman, Jammer, Juggy D + MC Special, Mecca 2 Medina, Ny, DJ Hype + Daddy Earl, DJ Luck and MC Neat, Chipmunk,Target, Mistajam, Hypa Fen & Marcie Phonix, Statik, Alex Mills, The Thirst, Adelaide Mckenzie, No.Lay, Metz & Trix, Hoodstars, Aruba Red, The Tribunes, Lil Rascals,Stylo G, Decypher Collective, DJ Rugrat, Nathan 'Flutebox' Lee, Lauren Mason.

Speakers include Tony Benn, Derek Simpson (Unite), Mark Serwotka (PCS), Weyman Bennett (LMHR) and Gemma Tumelty (NUS).

Recently Morrissey has personally stepped in with a significant financial contribution to the Love Music Hate Racism campaign in order to allow their 30th Anniversery Rock Against Racism concert to go ahead in Victoria Park, London this weekend without financial loss or burden to the campaign. In addition to his own contribution he has rallied his management, booking agency and promoters to make up the majority of the £75,000 deficit LMHR was faced with after a main sponsor pulled out.

Morrissey commented, “This is a historic event spreading an important, anti-racist, message so it must be allowed to go ahead. Love Music Hate Racism got in touch and explained that the NME had pulled support, possibly as a result of their association with me, and asked if I could help as they had not been able to replace them. This is something I am commited to and we appreciate everyone coming together so quickly to make it happen.”

http://www.lovemusichateracism.com/