Love Music Hate Racism

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. "

Tom Robinson is today best known as a popular presenter on the BBC's digital station 6 Music. But in 1978 Tom fronted the Tom Robinson Band, headlined the 30th April Victoria Park ANL/RAR Carnival, and was a driving force in Rock Against Racism. He talked to LMHR about the anniversary and need to keep fighting racism.

LMHR & UAF supporters in Oxfordshire have really got stuck into publicising and raising money for LMHR Carnival '08, and are using the Victoria Park Carnival as a focus for helping the anti-racist movement grow in their area - in the process coming up with great ideas that anyone in any area could take up.

A BNP member in south-east London was convicted last week for possessing illegal weapons. Ellis Hammond worked as a "Police Community Support Officer" but had a stash of arms and racist hate literature...

Leon Greenman OBE , survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp and anti fascist campaigner passed away yesterday at the age of 97. He will be sorely missed—and never forgotten.

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.

Olivia Fletcher speaks to Statik and explores whether grindie is a new genre of music, just a fad or even a phenomenon... (from The Voice 13.12.07)

Newscastle University Students' Union recently held a Love Music Hate Racism event in honour of Martin Luther King, who received his Honary doctorate from Newcastle Universtiy 40 years ago this month. Racial Equality Officer Michael Oliver reports on how he made his first LMHR event a success...

Good article on bhangra in this month's Observer Music Monthly. "It started as Punjabi farmers' music, then took on its own unique British identity - and now bhangra is going global. Talking to the stars of the scene, Sue Steward follows the sound of the drums"

By Andrew Smith. Though more commonly-namechecked bands like The Clash are often credited with the significant popular cultural fusion of reggae and punk in the late 1970s there is one band which should be far from overlooked ... Much of The Ruts' reggae-punk sound can be credited to the cutting, jagged guitar sound of Paul Fox ... His influence for those who have discovered his work is phenomenal and credit will always go to him for his anti-fascist work and his influence on the anti-racist cultural movement of the late 1970s.

By Olivia Fletcher, LMHR. "Scientist", James Watson's theory was last week splashed on the front cover of The Independent (Wednesday 17 October 2007) which read "Africans are less intelligent than Westerners, says DNA pioneer". Following a huge response from campaigners and other scientists opposing his views, Watson has since had meetings and lecture tours cancelled and suspended from his academic post.

Unite Against Fascism has learnt that Oxford Union debating society has invited Fascist BNP leader Nick Griffin and convicted Holocaust denier David Irving to a debate on 'Freedom of Speech' on 26 November. UAF understands they both have been confirmed for this 'debate'. Wherever fascists have a presence, violence and intimidation increases. Fascists stand against the principles of freedom of speech and as history shows, they destroy all opposition by physically annihilating entire people and ending all freedoms.

Billy Bragg, set to visit Barking Abbey School with LMHR tomorrow, has an article in today's Guardian G2 section talking about music and politics, Rock Against Racism and LMHR.

As white supremacists plan a three-day gathering to be held in the greater Portland area from October 5 – 7, community members and anti-racists throughout the Pacific Northwest will gather in response on what is scheduled to be Day Two of the “Hammerfest” hate festival. An anti-racist community gathering and rally will take place on October 6, starting at 1PM in Lents Park located on SE 92nd & Holgate. The rally intends to expose white supremacist groups in the Northwest, as well as to bring diverse communities together in a stand against fascist organizing and violence aimed at Jewish people and people of color, sexual minorities, and activists.

NME sent journo Mark Beaumont to the LMHR/NUT CD NME cover photo shoot, to host a round-table discussion on LMHR, the BNP and racism in Britain with Kele Bloc Party, Drew McConnell from Babyshambles, Lethal Bizzle, Tom from The Enemy, Carl Barat from DPT, and Lee Billingham from LMHR. Click here to read his impressions of the day.

Vic Motune writes on Steel Pulse and the part they played in Rock Against Racism in this week's 'The Voice' newspaper....

Amongst news of supermodels, drugs and run-ins with the police for front man Peter Doherty, there’s a side of the band Babyshambles which remains largely untouched by the press. It’s a cause supported by all of the band, but particularly bassist Drew McConnell - the commitment to a better world without prejudices. Appel talked to him about racism, music and the double-edged sword of the media.

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

Following an even-m0re-than usual rambling rant by resident Time Out scribbler Michael Hodges - which carried an oblique pop at LMHR and indeed any musician daring to support a political cause - Guy Taylor wrote an excellent letter in response which got the London listings magazines. Read on to see Guy's spot-on reply....

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