Love Music Hate Racism

By Tim Woodall, Manchester LMHR. On Saturday 15th November, the BNP staged a conference at the New Kimberley Hotel in Blackpool. Their decision to congregate there was part of an ongoing campaign to target the North West in an attempt to gain support for Nick Griffin, who is likely to stand in the 2009 European Elections. This is a major threat to democracy. Consequently, Unite Against Fascism organised a demonstration that mobilised people against the BNP and sent a clear message to everyone inside the hotel: "Fascists are not welcome in the North West." More than 200 people marched through Blackpool at the weekend. We walked in unison from the Winter Gardens, past cars full of people along the promenade - many of whom beeped their horns, cheered and gave us the thumbs up - down to the grotty, run-down hotel itself. Outside, a number of key anti-fascist figures made speeches, followed by united chants that really summed up why we were standing out in the cold on a Saturday afternoon: The BNP is a Nazi party: Smash the BN

Report from last week’s Unite Against Fascism/LMHR East Midlands conference/rally Around 120 people attended the hugely successful and lively ‘Stop the BNP’ rally on Saturday 1st November in the East Midlands. A huge range of subjects were touched on by the speakers Bob Laxton MP, Lee Baron CWU Regional Secretary, Weyman Bennett joint Secretary [...]

Around 100 people attended the Unity Rally held in Stoke on 6th Oct. The Rally was called jointly by NORSCARF, Love Music Hate racism and UAF and saw Mark Fisher MP join a vibrant line up of speakers to debate and discuss ways to oppose the BNP in Stoke. The rally followed the successful 500-strong mobilisation against a BNP demo in the city on September 20th.

Earlier this month Love Music Hate Racism travelled to Lithuania to attend the Mountain Rock music festival and conference. They addressed the delegation of music industry bosses and fans, giving an inspiring presentation leading to many in attendance to promise their assistance in curating LMHR events across Europe next year.

The biggest-ever indoor LMHR event closes triumphantly as the stars, MPs and members of the public come together to undermine the fascist BNP. Ali Ryland recalls last Saturday's festivities when Yorkshire united against the Nazis.

Excellent review of the Carnival in The Independent by Nick Hasted Monday, 28 April 2008 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/love-music-hate-racism-carnival-victoria-park-london-816631.html "The fact that a bill in which skinny indie bands such as The Paddingtons, a heaving dance tent and the grime act Roll Deep's Wiley can co-exist in the East End heartland is perhaps anti-fascist statement enough. The utter impossibility of the BNP raising such a crowd in London is suddenly glaring. "

By Meenal Odedra - LMHR supporter in Swadlincote, Derby. I know that racism is something that should never be tolerated. But what I am unable to understand is how songs such as Bashy's “Black Boys” are seen as unappropriate. This song - which celebrates the achievements of various Black artists - has caused conflict among listeners. To some it segregates the race, puts them above others-which could seem quite negative; people have argued that if such songs called “White Boys” were released it would be deemed racist. To others however, it celebrates their culture and shows that although their history was not the easiest to overcome, their future looks promising.

Hackney Empire, 19 July 2007 LMHR/RAR 40th Anniversary The Set List: 1 Ampersand 2 Cologne Hotel 3 Fisherman's Blues 4 Happy As Annie 5 Video Dream Girl 6 K Hole 7 Superstar Tradesman 8 Face For The Radio

Last weekend saw the annual London Pride. The National Front's counter-demonstration was the first time a fascist group has counter demonstrated against Pride in many years. Five forlorn fascists held placards and a banner which included an attack on lesbian and gay marriage rights. They were met by thousands of marchers, revellers and activists who held up Unite Against Fascism's placards based on the pink triangle design that Hitler's Nazis used to identify gay men

Postal Mortem- The Death of Fascism? UAF/LMHR Conference Report By Jamie Stewart

By organisers Sadia Hussain & Jennifer Sharpe.

Just want to say a big huge THANK-YOU to all of you who helped make last night not only possible, but a great success - definately worth losing my voice for!!! Thanks to ticket sales, competition entries, massages, and sales of gifts and cards we made a tidy sum on the night!!!!! This [...]

Love Music Hate Racism celebrated 30 years since the very first Rock Against Racism gig - last week at the Royal College of Art, London, the same venue as that first RAR gig, which featured acts including Carol Grimes and Denis Bovell.

By Olivia Fletcher An impressive 800 people came from as far as London and as wide as Milton Keynes to destination venue: Liquid club, Hanley, Stoke on Trent to catch a fantastic Love Music Hate Racism line up on Thursday night. This was the first major event in Stoke on Trent for two years, following [...]

By Paul Grist Knaresborough is a small market town situated about 20 miles from Leeds. King James’s school is a genuinely comprehensive secondary school in the sense that it is the only secondary school in the town. All children from the local area, Knaresborough plus a quite wide ranging rural area surrounding Knaresborough, attend [...]

By Kerri Parke Naseema, a young Muslim woman, gets ready for her first day at work. She says goodbye to her mum and dad, her brother and sister, and eagerly begins her day in this new, unusual world. Little does she suspect that there will be someone at her new workplace who will not be so [...]