Coventry Love Music Hate Racism launch
By David Kersey
Coventry Love Music Hate Racism was launched in fine style last week, when none other than Mr Jerry Dammers provided a special selection of entertainment to celebrate the award of an Honorary Degree from Coventry University. The launch, at Dogma, on November 20th, was part of a growing momentum behind the Coventry Love Music Hate Racism campaign.
The Monday night event included a showing of the superb documentary film, ‘Who Shot the Sheriff’, which captivated the audience with its vintage footage and newsreel from the successful battle against the NF in the 70’s and 80’s. The film was followed by a short Q&A session with Alan Miles, who made the movie and Jerry Dammers, legendary keyboard player and founder of the Specials.
The night concluded with a lively set of vintage Jamaican grooves from Jerry, mixed with a splash of Two Tone an injection of punk and an impromptu toast from Lynval Golding!
Caron McKenna, spokesperson for Coventry Love Music Hate Racism said, ‘Far right groups like the BNP are actively trying to undermine the reputation of our city as a place where people from many different backgrounds and cultures work, live and enjoy ourselves together. It is really fitting that Jerry Dammers, the man who formed Coventry’s best known band and wrote ‘Free Nelson Mandela’, launch our campaign. Two Tone music represented the idea that music can bring black and white people together to enjoy and energise ourselves, and learn that we best solve our problems by working together rather than blaming the first scapegoat that the racists suggest. The Love Music Hate Racism campaign will counter the distortions being spread by some sections of the media, opportunist politicians and the hate mongers of the British National Party. We aim to continue the tradition of Coventry as a city that unites people and that shows the racists the door’.
Local bands and DJ’s are now queuing up to promote more LMHR events in Coventry in the next few months. Watch this space for more details.
