The film made by Union TV about our Stoke Festival on May 30th is now up on the Community Channel website – http://bit.ly/4zS3Km
The election of two members of the fascist British National Party to the European Parliament marks a turning point in British politics. Their election threatens to normalise the presence of the BNP in politics. The fascists will use their foothold to push their bigotry in the media and whip up race hatred on our streets. Millions of ordinary people do not want to see racism used to divide our society. These people are totally opposed to the politics of the BNP and they have to be drawn into the active anti fascist movement in ever larger numbers.
We need to strengthen anti racism campaign roots across the country, in particular in Yorkshire & Humberside and the North West, with the view to building a huge campaign base in advance of the local elections next year.
It is for these reasons that Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism have called a joint emergency conference in Manchester on Saturday 18th July. There will be speakers, discussion and ideas for action and a number of workshops including – “Countering Racist Myths”, “Celebrating Unity Against the Racists – Building LMHR”, and “The Media and the Role of Anti-fascists”. We urge all our supporters and everyone angry and concerned at the Nazis’ electoral gains to attend.
Tags: Manchester, North West Musicians including Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers), Sam Duckworth (Get Cape Wear Cape Fly), Lowkey (Mongrel), Nottingham rapper C-Mone, and Manchester’s own Kid British will be on the panel of the LMHR session at the conference to give their views on the BNP and how music can help fight back. Other speakers include veteran anti-fascist campaigner Glyn Ford, Steve Farley from North West TUC and Dominique Walker, sister of Anthony Walker who was murdered by racists in 2005. Register now to attend >> www.uaf.org.uk
From Unite Against Fascism – www.uaf.org.uk
Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist British National Party (BNP), has let slip what his party really stands for with his call to sink boats carrying African migrants to Europe. Speaking to the BBC, Griffin called on the European Union to “get very tough with those coming over”, before spelling out what these “tough” measures meant: “Frankly, they need to sink several of those boats.”
Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “Griffin’s comments show all too starkly that the BNP’s claims to have ‘moderated’ its politics are lies. Griffin remains a committed Nazi and the BNP remains a fascist organisation. His brazen contempt for the lives of Africans stem directly from his white supremacist Nazi beliefs.”
The Slinky Productions/Union TV-made programme of the Stoke LMHR Festival, featuring great live footage from the show as well as interviews with artists and camapigners, will be transmitted on the Community Channel (Sky 539) (Virgin 233) (Freeview 87) on the following days:
Saturday 11th July 2009
Tuesday 14th July 2009
Thursday 16th July 2009
Saturday 18th July 2009
It will be shown at 4.30pm and 10.30pm on each of the above days and will also be available after the first transmission to view on-line at Community Channel – Home or Community Channel – Union TV
LMHR’s own photos and video from Stoke Festival can be found at our youtube and flickr sites >> YouTube – lmhruk’s Channel and Flickr: LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM’s Photostream
A number of artists have already reacted to the election of the fascist BNP to the European Parliament in song – but LowKey is the first to release a new song specially written in response the Nazis’ election win. As well as being a brilliant track with sentiments every anti-fascist can chant along to, “We Don’t Want Them” is released via iTunes today with every penny of the profits going to LMHR – that’s almost 50p for the cause from everyone who buys it – so what are you waiting for. We need your support to build an even bigger campaign against racism and fascism – so just click here to hear a smart and angry hip-hop tune that puts it money where its mouth is.
