Image Credit: Aidan Jones

On Sunday April 27th, it was the 30th anniversary of the legendary Rock Against Racism gig in Victoria Park, London.

Historically featured The X-Ray Spex and The Clash among others, Love Music Hate Racism held a carnival in the same spot. Portsmouth Students’ Union provided a free coach for the students who wanted to attend the event.

It was a brilliantly successful day with 100,000 people of all ages contributing to a fantastic atmosphere, despite the rain.

The main message was one of anti-racism with a need to eradicate any trace of the Nazi British National Party from the Greater London Authority in the local elections on May 1st.

This is as important today as it was 30 years ago with the disastrous wars in the Middle East, which have led to attacks on civil liberties, immigration and pervasive scapegoating of Muslims by the government.

The BNP’s hold in some areas of the UK is a scary reality and one which needs to be combated.

It is days like the one on the 27th which send a clear message that their extreme right wing policies are not welcome. NUS, supported by its student members, have implemented a no platform policy for fascists within universities.

The BNP are at the top of the list and it is essential that we uphold this as students’ unions should be a safe place for everyone.

Holding events like the One World Fashion Show and the Societies Carnival, are ways of telling other universities and wider society what our priorities are – a fair, free, equal world.
Love Music Hate Racism.