July 13th 2008

Islington Trades Unionists Leaflet the Rise Festival

Despite the efforts of Tory mayor Boris Johnson to rebrand the annual Rise festival, dozens of socialists of every hue turned out to distribute leaflets and press home the festival's anti-racist message.

The Rise festival was started by the Trades Union Congress as a way of celebrating multi-culturalism and voicing opposition to the fascist BNP. The festival was very successful and management of the event was taken over by Mayor Ken Livingstone. Now with the BNP holding a seat on the Greater London Authority, right-wing Tory mayor Boris has tried to drop the festival's anti-racism stance, and banned groups like Cuba Solidarity from participating.

Numerous left groups arrived at the festival with anti-racist leaflets and posters. Included was a contingent from Islington Trades Council, taking advantage of the opportunity to display ITUC's magnificent banner at the gates of Finsbury Park.