Love Music Hate Racism

Love Music Hate Racism will join Unite Against Fascism as they hit the streets to flyer local homes and businesses warning of the dangers that voting for a fascist organisation, such as the BNP can bring to their areas. Please join us and help smash the BNP in London!

Just a few weeks ago the first batch of Rotherham carnival tickets sold out within just three hours, now Love Music Hate Racism is glad to announce that the next batch of tickets will go on sale to local residents in ROTHERHAM and SHEFFIELD. Only 1000 more tickets will be available to locals in person on Saturday 12th July. There also very limited quantities of tickets available this weekend in BARNSLEY, CHESTERFIELD and DONCASTER Check inside for more important details!

East Midlands Unite Against Fascism have called a protest against a fascist rally organised by the BNP in Derbyshire on Saturday August 16th. Despite significant local opposition - including the withdrawal of a premises (alcohol & music) licence by the local authority and police - the BNP are going ahead with their Nazi rally in the Derbyshire countryside. In previous years, BNP members were secretly filmed by BBC documentary makers singing Nazi marching songs at the event. UAF are calling on every organisation and individual opposed the BNP's attempt to hold an event aimed at stirring up race hate to protest near the rally site at Denby Lane, Codnor, Derbyshire from 9am on Sat 16th August. For a map of the protest location see http://tinyurl.com/6f8vck. More details of the protest will be released shortly.

From nme.com: Lily Allen has posted by a clip of a new song about the British National Party on her MySpace page. The song, entitled 'Guess Who Batman?', is expected to feature on Allen's forthcoming second album, which she is completing in Los Angeles. Writing on the Lily Allen MySpace blog, the singer explained, "This song is not a direct attack at anyone, it was originally written about the BNP in the UK but then I felt this issue has become relevant pretty much everywhere." The song features the lyrics, "Look inside your tiny mind, then look a bit harder/'Cos we're so uninspired, so sick and tired of all the hatred you harbour/So you say it's not OK to be gay, well I think you're just evil/You're just some racist who can't tie my laces, your point of view is medieval/Fuck you, fuck you very much/'Cos we hate what you do and we hate your whole crew, so please don't stay in touch."

There was an excellent, diverse and loud turnout for Saturday's LMHR/UAF demonstration and carnival parade against racism and fascism. The event is a great start in building a year-long campaign to stop the BNP gaining success in next year's Euro elections. There were LMHR and UAF groups from around the country, scores of trade union banners, and musicians present included John McClure from Reverend and the Makers, Babyshambles' Drew McConnell, UK-Iraqi rapper LowKey, Birmingham "grime theatre" group Decypher Collective, The Priscillas, The Thirst, Mecca 2 Medina, Stoke's own ska outfit Skalinski, and DJ Rugrat whipped up a storm on the decks. For photos from the day check out our flickr site, and there is also video from the day to watch - click the title of this item to have a look. Thanks to all who helped organise the event, and in particular the trade unions who sponsored it and turned out members and leaders to speak.

LINE UP INCLUDES: Rigsby, Kojo, Chalou St Jude, The Revels. The Quad, London School of Economics, Thursday 26th June Doors: 7.30pm Tickets: £5 on the door Presented by Avnon Music Group and Band Republic.

Jamm, Brixton follows the national demonstration against the BNP with an after party in aid of the protesters…Love Music Hate Racism and Unite Against Fascism, Featuring; an early bbq and speakers outside the venue followed by an over 14’s showcase in aid of the cause till 9pm. Then on we go well into the night with bands and an exclusive dj set from BABYSHAMBLES plus a very special guest still to be announced courtesy of LMHR!

LMHR and Unite Against Fascism are calling a national demonstration and carnival parade against fascism and racism which will celebrate the diversity of our society and make it clear that racism and fascist organisations like the BNP will not be tolerated. There will be a march and carnival parade, with floats, marching bands, speakers and banners from every organisation opposed to the BNP's racist hate.

Top musicians, and political, religious, lesbian and gay and faith group leaders willl join thousands of other people from across the country on Saturday's LMHR/Unite Against Facism "Stop the Fascist BNP" march and parade. Babyshambles, Reverend & The Makers, Mecca 2 Medina, The Paddingtons, Adelaide McKenzie and many more will march and perform, while speakers include the TUC's Frances O'Grady, Unite union leader Derek Simpson, film director Gurdinder Chadha, CWU postal workers' leader Billy Hayes, John McDonnell MP, Mark Serwotka leader of civil service union PCS, Claude Moraes MEP, Dr Abdul Bari of the Muslim Council of Britain, and many others. For a PDF route map of the march and parade click the title of this email.

Following the distinctly iffy 'controversy' over Jay-Z headlining Glastonbury this year, comes the news that top rapper and LMHR supporter Lethal Bizzle got some nasty racist abuse at last weekend's "Download" Festival. An article in today's Independent looks at what happened, and tells Lethal's side of the story. Lethal has proposed curating a rock/hip-hop LMHR gig in response - in his manager's words to, "get a load of rock bands together to show their support for Bizzle and fans to show theirs too. This was just a minority involved in the racial abuse Bizzle was subjected to, but I think it’s important we make it clear that many people think this it totally unacceptable and if we can organize something that will bring different groups together that would be good."

Love Music Hate Racism condemns the decision of new Tory London mayor Boris Johnson to drop the explicitly anti-racist element of the annual free ‘Rise’ music festival. Boris Johnson should reinstate the Rise Festival along its original lines. If Rise isn’t reinstated in its previous form, LMHR would like to see another annual London anti-racist festival and would like to explore with other organisations how we can ensure this happens.

Love Music Hate Racism condemns the decision of new Tory London mayor Boris Johnson to drop the explicitly anti-racist element of the annual free ‘Rise’ music festival. Boris Johnson should reinstate the Rise Festival along its original lines. If Rise isn’t reinstated in its previous form, LMHR would like to see another annual London anti-racist festival and would like to explore with other organisations how we can ensure this happens.

There was a huge response to the initial tickets for the 6th September LMHR Rotherham Carnival going on sale on Saturday, with music fans and anti-racists forming queues early, and many signing up to get more involved in LMHR and Unite Against Fascism and to come on next weekend's national demonstration. A further batch will be on sale in person to locals in the near future, following which (probably in early July) tickets will go on general sale and online. Watch this space over the next couple of days for more info.

Coaches are being booked from around the country for the national LMHR/Unite Against Fascism demonstration and carnival parade in London on Saturday 21st June. Campaigners from areas with sitting fascist BNP councillors are among them - including Stoke-on-Trent, Burnley and Rotherham. The event will be a national show of unity against the Nazis which will boost anti-fascists and launch year-long sustained local anti-BNP campaigns in the run up to next year's European Parliament elections. Click the title of this item for more details - and let us know of any other coaches planned.

Fundraiser in Newport in aid of a coach to the demonstration in London on 21st June Join us for a night of fun and frolics in Newport, featuring some of the most exciting local acts Pen andWig (Upstairs) Friday 13th June 7.30pm £3 entry More info on myspace.com/leftisbestpromotions

In support of Derby for Africa Initiative, Derby Racial Equality Council presents: Delusions of Grandeur With special guests Bana Congo at The Flowerpot, 25 King St, Derby Thursday 12th June – Doors 8pm Admission £3 ~ All proceeds to Derby for Africa Initiative

Meeting will take place on Thursday June 12th The meeting will take place at 7.30pm at the Hare and Squirrel, New Union Street, Coventry. All Welcome.

John McClure aka The Reverend has curated a stellar line-up of top, largely Yorkshire-based artists, as a response to the fascist BNP winning two council seats in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The mega-gig takes place at Rotherham's Magna venue on Saturday 6th September with acts confirmed so far including Reverend & the Makers, Roll Deep, The Courteeners and Mongrel (who are The Reverend, ex-Arctic Monkey Andy Nicholson, Drew McConnell of Babyshambles and LowKey). Many more exciting names are still to come as soon as they can be officially announced. The mega-gig takes place at Rotherham's Magna venue on Saturday 6th September. An initial batch of 3,000 tickets will go on sale THIS weekend (Sat 14th) to local (Sheffield, Rotherham or Barnley) based residents. Special box offices will be open from 11am to 3pm for people to buy tickets at £10 on a cash-only basis (maximum 4 per person). After that, they will be on sale via the national LMHR website. On Saturday tickets go on sale at All Saints Centre, Vicarage Lane, Rotherham (in the Minster courtyard) and St Matthew’s Church Rooms, Carver Street, Sheffield (off Division St).

Momentum is building for the June 21st national demonstration against racism and fascism in London. Leading figures from every community threatened by the fascist BNP, as well as cultural icons and grassroots campaigners are coming together to oppose the Nazis. Pete Doherty, a long-time suporter of LMHR, said: "There will be no passage of evil through these isles without a proper, good struggle. This island has always been a melting pot and personally I am 100% mongrel in the great dog stew of history. Bona fide scouse, London Irish, Jew, Geordie, BiloRussian. Closed borders are like closed minds. What of humanity's horizons? How infinite are they or how barricaded are they? Racism is upon us and let us not forget it is still within living memory that six million people died in gas chambers because of a hateful ideology." Gurinder Chadha, celebrated Director of films like Bend it Like Beckham, said: "Britain is a fantastic place made up of a wonderful mix of people. There is no room in our society for small-minded, small-thinking, racist people. That is why I'm supporting the march on the 21st" Diane Abbott MP said: "The BNP are a Party of xenophobia, racism, homophobia and sexism. But their election to the Greater London Authority in May shows that they are capable of fooling ordinary people into believing they stand for a better Britain. The only way to beat the BNP is to show people that the BNP's vision for Britain would take us back to the dark ages. We must reach out and encourage all communities to use their voice and their vote to protect multi-cultural Britain. Ben Summerskill of gay rights group Stonewall said: "Less than three years after Jody Dobrowski was kicked to death in London just for being gay, no one should forget that extremism still thrives unless it's challenged. Decent people should stand shoulder to shoulder to prevent extremists from terrorizing Britain's minority communities."

Medway LMHR present: A FREE LIVE MUSIC FESIVAL IN CHATHAM Saturday 7th June 1pm - 10pm @ The Command House, Chatham Featuring: Indie / Psychedelic African drumming Hip Hop / Rap / Reggae Acoustic / Indie World wide mix of food available • Juggling and circus skills Street dancers • Jam tent • Complementary therapy For details call 07747 675264