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Love Music Hate Racism

Leading artists including Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Coldplay and James Blunt declare support for the massive re-launch of the ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ campaign

Musicians of the moment, are putting their views “out there” by making it known what they think about racism. Stormzy and Ed Sheeran (did you see them at The Brits?) alongside Coldplay’s Chris Martin and others are endorsing the “Love Music Hate Racism” campaign.

The need to kick racism with a capital K is long overdue – enough now.  Whether subtle or blatant racism along with all the actions and damage that go with it needs to cease. Perhaps music is the medicine and the best place to start.

Music – all genres of music – draws people together.  You forget your cares, your problems and your needs when music envelopes your soul and your being. Musical collaborations have been bringing people together for years from

Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger’s “Don’t Look Back”

Elton John and Tupac’s “Ghetto Gospel”

Beyonce with Chris Martin’s “Hymn For The Weekend”

Stormzy and Ed Sheeran performing at the Brits

These collaborations make major statements so let’s keep this connection through music and use the tool alongside these artists to Love Music and Hate Racism

ED SHEERAN image credit lovemusichateracism.com

Some of Britain’s top musicians and bands are throwing their weight behind the re-launch of Love Music Hate Racism. Drawing inspiration from Rock Against Racism stalwarts The Clash, Steel Pulse, Tom Robinson band and Misty in Roots, popular artists including Stormzy, Charli XCX, Lianne La Havas, Coldplay, Kwabs and Ed Sheeran have shown their commitment to anti-racism by posing in the iconic ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ t-shirts. They will send a clear message to their millions of fans that music has the power to bring people together.

 

JAMES BLUNT image credit lovemusichateracism.com

The ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ campaign is supporting the planned United Nations Anti-Racism Day events, in London and around the world, on Saturday 18th March.

 

JESS G image credit lovemusichateracism.com

Zak Cochrane, campaigner at ‘Love Music, Hate Racism’ comments, “There is a proud history of musicians standing up to racism from the likes of Steel Pulse and The Clash performing at Rock Against Racism gigs in the 70s to bands such as The Libertines and Roll Deep playing at Love Music Hate Racism events in the early 2000s.”

 

COLDPLAY image credit lovemusichateracism.com

‘Love Music Hate Racism’ is the continuation of the ‘Rock Against Racism’ movement of the late 1970s, which used music to unite people and promote anti-racism.

‘Love Music, Hate Racism’ uses the energy of the music scene to celebrate diversity and involve people in anti-racist activity. Since its founding in 2002, it has produced many hundreds of events, from large outdoor festivals to local gigs and club nights. It has been instrumental in discouraging support for far-right groups.

More information can be found at www.lovemusichateracism.com or @lmhrnational or [email protected].

 

STORMZY image credit lovemusichateracism.com

To support UN Anti-Racism Day, demonstrations will also be taking place in Glasgow, Cardiff, Amsterdam, Athens, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Copenhagen and Warsaw on Saturday 18 March. Anyone interested in joining the march in London should visit www.lovemusichateracisim.com and sign up today.

To buy the t-shirts the musicians are wearing they can at www.lovemusichateracism.com. For every t-shirt sold £1 will go to refugee charity Care4Calais.