London to host UpRise anti-racism festival

The second annual UpRise Anti-Racism festival takes place next week with a host of events designed to reflect the true spirit of London.

This year's "Community is Home" festival will take place in Dalston, Hackney on September 25 in a unified show of 'Peace across the Streets'.

The organisers will be hosting events at fourteen unusual spaces which will play host to the festival trail including a rooftop, vegetable garden, WWII bunker and public square to celebrate the many communities and cultures which make up the city.

There will be live music, live art, films, debates, a family area, games, outside disco, walks, talks, speakers, comedy and more, not to mention completely solar powered stages.

UpRise was founded in 2010 following the demise of the Rise festival, which was cancelled by Mayor of London Boris Johnson in 2009.

But a group of individuals got together to start a new festival which they believe is important to challenge race issues in society, to share and respect culture and to promote unity between communities.

UpRise Director Paul Richards said,

"Ignoring racism, or denying its’ existence, does not mean it is not there. Prejudicial views derive from a deep rooted history, and sadly, racism still very much blemishes our society daily. Only by open discussion will we all be able to move toward peace and respect, and resign racism to the history books where it belongs, once and for all."

Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Founder and human rights campaigner Doreen Lawrence OBE said,

"We hope that events such as UpRise will contribute to hastening the day we’ll speak not so much of people of colour, but about colourful people”.

Ken Livingstone, who has supported Rise Festival since its inception, added,

"Every single nation on earth is represented in London, and it works. If I am lucky enough to be Mayor in 2012, I will provide funding for UpRise to help it grow."

To find out more about UpRise, click here