Major Love Music Hate Racism event in London's Victoria Park

To mark Rock Against Racism's 30th birthday
London, Sunday 27th April 2008

Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR), the descendants of RAR, will be marking the 30th Anniversary of the RAR/ANL carnival and procession with a similar event in Victoria Park on 27th April 2008, featuring an exciting and eclectic bill of major contemporary acts plus appearances from some of the musical heroes of the RAR era. The bill will feature artists who will attract an audience from all age ranges and all ethnic backgrounds and will play across three stages.

Just as important as commemorating such an historic event & movement, the 2008 Carnival will also aim to inspire thousands today to vote against racism in the Greater London Assembly and local council elections taking place a few days after the Carnival, to get actively involved in opposing fascist parties like the BNP.

On 30th April 1978, the famous Anti Nazi League/Rock Against Racism (RAR) march and carnival took place, with a march from Trafalgar Square to an 80,000-strong carnival in east London's Victoria Park. The Clash, famously, performed (with Sham 69's Jimmy Pursey guesting), as did Tom Robinson Band, Steel Pulse and X-Ray Spex. The event was an iconic moment, both for the anti-fascist movement of the time, and in UK music lore. It politicised many for a lifetime to come.

Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) was set up in 2002 in response to rising levels of racism and electoral successes for the Nazi British National Party (BNP). We use the energy of our music scene to celebrate diversity and involve people in anti-racist and anti-fascist activity – as well as to urge people to vote against fascist candidates in elections. LMHR has helped to mobilise against further BNP election victories, in the tradition of the Rock Against Racism (RAR) movement of the late 1970s.

There have been now been over 400 LMHR events, from large outdoor festivals to local gigs and club nights. Top artists who've performed at LMHR events include Ms Dynamite, Hard -Fi, Babyshambles, Akala, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Estelle, The View, Lethal Bizzle, Roll Deep and Basement Jaxx. Just as important are the up-and-coming bands, DJs, MCs and their fans who have performed at or organised their own local LMHR nights.

We want local LMHR and trade union groups to organise transport to the carnival from all over the country but we also need your support to help us finance this massive event . For details of how to donate or for more information on the Carnival and all our other activities and news keep checking our website www.lovemusichateracism.com or contact us at info@lovemusichateracism.com.

UAF