Unite Slams Mayor Boris’ Decision to Cancel Rise Festival ‘09

LONDON - Unite, one of the former sponsors of the Rise anti-racism festival, has today (Wednesday), slammed London Mayor Boris Johnson for his short-sighted and hasty decision to cancel the event on the basis of what he deemed to be a lack of ‘major sponsorship’.

Unite regional secretary, Steve Hart, said:

“Unite was never approached by the London Mayor, or by any of his staff in the run-up to this decision. Unite is calling for the London Mayor to work with the union to devise new strategies to combat racism and reconsider his decision to the cancel Rise Festival 2009.

“After last year’s scandalous decision to remove the anti-racism message from promotional material for the Rise Festival and instead use the words ‘celebrating diversity’, Boris has now decided to take a hasty, short-sighted decision to stop the festival all together disappointing over 100,000 loyal followers.

“The Mayor should promote a festival that celebrates London’s diversity and sends a strong anti-racist message. Boris Johnson has not asked us to be involved in such an event. We call on the Mayor to work with the unions and others in devising strategies that actively oppose racism and the BNP in London in 2009 and beyond.”

Source: Unite the Union

For further information contact Mark Di-Toro in the Unite press office on +44(0)7918-640-579