Boris Johnson, London's mayor, was criticised by equality campaigners last night after it emerged one of the capital's biggest free music festivals is to drop its anti-racist message.
Rise has been held in London since 1996 and has become the biggest anti-racist music festival in Europe. It was supported by the previous mayor, Ken Livingstone, as well as by trade unions and the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR).
But yesterday a spokeswoman for Johnson said this year's event, on July 13, would no longer carry an anti-racist message: "Boris has made a commitment to go ahead with the Rise festival this year but wants to emphasise its cultural and community dimensions." During his election campaign Johnson was forced to apologise for describing Africans as having "watermelon smiles" and writing of "piccaninnies". He said his comments were taken out of context and he was committed to fighting racism.
But last night a spokesman for the NAAR called that claim into question. "The sincerity of Boris Johnson's claimed commitment to opposing racism in his election campaign is shown to be false by the fact that one of his first decisions is to abandon Europe's biggest anti-racist festival," he said.
Johnson's office said the mayor was "unequivocal that there is no place for racism or division in London", adding: "Major festivals and events are an important way of bringing Londoners from diverse backgrounds together, to celebrate what we share in common and enjoy the rich cultural contribution of different communities."
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) has also been told that its annual Big Cuba Fiesta stage is barred from this year's event.
The Greater London authority's director of arts policy , Munira Mirza, told the group in a letter that "it is no longer appropriate to have overtly political organisations involved in the programme or in the community area".
Rob Miller, CSC's director, said: "It is outrageous that the new mayor of London has taken such a discriminatory position against Cuba Solidarity ... We hope that this silly act of political censorship will even yet be overturned."
Guardian
June 17, 2008
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5 comments:
No doubt the barking one of Dagenham will be chuffed about this. Perhaps in the name of diversity the mayor will invite one of the ghastly "artists" signed to Great White Records to play?
But there is a big question mark hanging over this move. As we all know it's Tory central office who are running London. Johnson is just their clownish figurehead. So whose bright idea was this?
First it was the oil deal with Chavez, now its an established anti-racist message.... Who is pulling the Boris puppet strings and does this have a deeper more sinister meaning?
And what the hell did you expect ?
The same racist divisions we have seen, delivered by Torys, from the North Cape to the Cape of Good Hope.
I hope this gives some evidence as to what the Conservatives plan for our future
Old Sailor (aka van Derdeken)
What a prat!!!
Looks like Boris is rewarding the BNP voters who ticked Dicky's box in second place.
All the more reason to know once and for all, organised racism is institutionalised, possibly to shore up the wars in Afganistan and Iraq.
Hatred of Muslims is politically accceptable to keep Britain's involvement in foreign wars in the Middle East.
re post at 3.09pm, yes you are probably right, as can be seen on Darbys blog, Dicky is aready claiming it as his victory.
Boris is so bloody stupid
tulip
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