Common Tapped To Headline Europe’s Largest Anti-Racism Festival

Chicago rapper Common has been added to London’s anti-racist festival, Rise: London United. The event is Europe’s largest anti-racism festival, taking place in Finsbury Park. The rapper, known for his conscious lyrics and positive stance, joins London rapper Sway, Killa Kela, DJ Kayper, jazz legend Roy Ayers, The Wailers, Graham Coxon, Buzzcocks, MC Inja and […]

Chicago rapper

Common has been added to London’s anti-racist festival, Rise: London United.

The event is Europe’s largest anti-racism festival, taking place in Finsbury

Park.

The rapper, known

for his conscious lyrics and positive stance, joins London rapper Sway, Killa

Kela, DJ Kayper, jazz legend Roy Ayers, The Wailers, Graham Coxon, Buzzcocks,

MC Inja and others.

The free festival

is organized by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to combat racism and celebrate

diversity in London. The event is being staged with the National Assembly Against

Racism and TUC, South East Region.

Rise is a free

festival organized by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to combat racism and celebrate

London’s diversity, in partnership with the National Assembly Against Racism

and TUC South East Region.

"Racist ideas

have been used to justify some of the worst crimes in history – slavery, the

holocaust, apartheid, segregation, murders and lynchings," Mayor Livingstone

told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "From the great racist crimes in history

to bullying in the school playground and vicious tabloid news coverage, racist

ideas have to be opposed because they disfigure our society and hold us back

from our real potential as human beings. Policies to combat racism and celebrate

our diversity are a permanent part of the work of London government, but Rise:

London United is one visible part of that fight, and one that gives us all the

chance to unite and enjoy the range of experiences and cultures that give our

city its character."

Comedians Ninia

Benjamin, Shazia Mirza, Nathan Caton and Kojo will provide humor for the crowd

in the comedy tent as well.

The free, one-day

festival will also feature winners of the London United London poetry slam,

selected by The Poetry Society and the Mayor of Livingstone earlier this year.

Rise: London United

takes place in Finsbury Park on Saturday 8th July 2006.