RISE against Racism

London’s biggest free music festival, RISE against Racism has taken place in every year since 1996. Initially a free festival named "Respect", it was held in London and funded by trade unions. Since 2001, under Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, it has been funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA). It changed its name to Rise in 2004 in the wake of the formation of political party Respect – The Unity Coalition.

With an eclectic mix of hip hop, indie, pop, jazz and reggae it is aimed to bring together the diverse community that is London and is partly organised by the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR). Several of Ken Livingstone's key aides at City Hall had links to NAAR, including Lee Jasper.

In 2005, over eighty thousand people and families attended the festival, which also brought together Londoners from all communities in the wake of the bombings on 7 July that year. Headlining artists at that event included Lemar, Billy Bragg and Suggs.

As well as the main stage featuring big name acts, there have been six other stages: Big Cuba Fiesta, Crescent stage, Urban music stage, African stage, Mela stage and DJ Bus, as well as a comedy tent. Other activities include a children’s play area, fair ground, food and drink, exhibitions and arts and crafts.

Controversy

Despite the stated focus on racism, a number of groups outside that remit had representation at the 2005 event, for example these included groups on both sides of the abortion debate.Fact|date=July 2008

After the election of the Conservative Party's Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008, partly on a platform of reversing Ken Livingstone's alleged "political correctness", the July 13 2008 Rise festival has muted its anti-racist message. In June 2008, Richard Barnbrook, the fascist British National Party's GLA member had raised questions in the Assembly about funding going to an anti-racist festival. [http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/assemmtgs/2008/mqtjun18/item05.pdf] A press release from the National Assembly Against Racism claimed they had been told by the GLA that "anti-racism will no longer be the central message of the Rise festival". [http://www.naar.org.uk/newspages/080616.asp] This has been confirmed by the renaming of the festival simply "Rise", rather than Rise Against Racism. [http://www.london.gov.uk/rise/index.jsp] The Greater London authority's director of arts policy, Munira Mirza, justifed the dropping of the anti-racist message at a GLA committee meeting:

“We have changed the emphasis, moving away from an explicitly anti-racist festival by stressing the cultural and community message of Rise and trying to involved grass-roots and community groups which have not previously been invited to be involved. I think it’s fair to say that the groups which have been involved in previous years did come from very narrow political background and we felt that this year it would be right to open up and make it more inclusive, to make it a very positive event that celebrate London’s diversity. My opinion and the Mayor’s opinion is that this is a new way of doing anti-racism, celebrating the rich mix and diversity of London.” [http://www.london.gov.uk/webcast/jun08/edcstcttee_240608.asx]

And in a "Guardian" article:

the GLA has decided to go ahead with Rise this summer, but to change the emphasis. We are stressing the cultural aspects of the festival and keeping the vibe positive. We are also bringing in grassroots ethnic and community organisations that have not previously been involved. Above all we are making Rise fun. As a result, the festival will hopefully attract a more diverse audience.

Londoners voted for change on May 1 and the new Rise is part of that change. Out will go the political sloganeering and heavy-handed propaganda but by bringing Londoners from different backgrounds together to share their love of music Rise will be doing anti-racism for real. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/17/1]

The Cuba Solidarity Campaign's annual Big Cuba Fiesta stage (jointly sponsored by the trade union Unite) was also banned from the festival. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/17/boris.london] Munira Mirza] , a former member of the Living Marxism group, told the Camapign in a letter that "it is no longer appropriate to have overtly political organisations involved in the programme or in the community area". [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/17/boris.london]

In response to the barring of the CSC and the muting of the anti-racist message, London's trade unions, the founders of the event, dropped their connection. According to a June 2008 press release from the Trades Union Congress (TUC):

Megan Dobney, the TUC’s London Regional Secretary said: “Trade unions are greatly offended by the removal of the central anti-racist message as well as by the ban on an organisation supported by the TUC. Trade union negotiation has proved fruitless and SERTUC is therefore left with no alternative but to withdraw.”

Steve Hart, Unite London Regional Secretary said: “Rise, or Respect as it was known, was launched by the trade unions as a means of involving mainly young people in anti-racism in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence and other racist murders. What is the point of what was explicitly an anti-racist festival if it drops its commitment to anti-racism?”

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary said: "We have supported the Rise Festival as a celebration of London's diverse communities and of anti-racism. It appears that this clear message is now being lost and the FBU no longer feels able to participate. We remain committed to any genuine initiative aimed at combating racism." [http://www.cuba-solidarity.org/news.asp?ItemID=1355]

External links

* [http://www.risefestival.org/ Official web site]