Community festival causes Rise in protest (From Haringey Independent)

Community festival causes Rise in protest

9:43am Friday 11th July 2008 in

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Protestors are planning to demonstrate outside the Rise festival in Finsbury Park this weekend after the event's anti-racist ethos was dropped.

Trade unionists and anti-fascist campaigners will be handing out leaflets outside London's biggest free music festival on Sunday, calling for the event's original message to be reinstated.

First known as Respect, the festival draws crowds of up to 100,000 music lovers from across the country.

It was set up in 1996 by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to promote anti-racism in the wake of Stephen Lawrence's murder and won support from the Mayor's Office in 2001.

But this year, Mayor of London Boris Johnson took the decision to drop its explicit anti-racist message in favour of a "celebration of culture and community".

The National Assembly Against Racism, which has featured in the music event since 1996, and Cuba Solidarity Campaign, have been banned from the event.

A spokeswoman for Mr Johnson said "political campaign groups" should no longer be involved with the festival.

Last week the TUC officially withdrew its support from the event.

Keith Flett, president of Haringey TUC said: "It was a disgraceful decision to drop the anti-racist theme.

"Race crimes are rising and the BNP now has a member sitting on the London Assembly. It just sends out completely the wrong message.

"Boris Johnson is totally out of tune with ordinary Londoners who know that a continuous effort is needed to make sure that hate and racist crimes do not become a feature of London life.

"Celebrating anti-racism is one effective way of doing that and that's what RISE should be all about."

But despite the controversy, the show will go on and reggae legend Jimmy Cliff will headline the musical showcase.

Mr Cliff, best known for his role in the film The Harder They Come and the chart hit You Can Get It If You Really Want It, will be one of 50 artists taking to the stage.

An eclectic mix of hip-hop, indie, pop, jazz and reggae acts will perform on the main stage and there will be other attractions, including a comedy tent featuring comedians from across London.

Short films and documentaries will also be screened in a cinema tent.

Also on site will be an African Village celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of London's African communities through music, arts, culture, literature, food and film.

The Rise festival takes place in Finsbury Park on Sunday, between 12pm and 8.30pm.