Post by dangeresque on Jun 18, 2008 19:49:34 GMT
Mayor drops festival's anti-racism message
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."
www1.u.tv/news/InternationalNews/index.asp?id=114791&sel2=3&sel=1&local=0
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."
www1.u.tv/news/InternationalNews/index.asp?id=114791&sel2=3&sel=1&local=0