Little Mix and Lewis Capaldi among 700 music industry figures to sign anti-racism letter: ‘We are at our worst when we attack one another’
Open letter appears to be a reaction in-part to grime artist Wiley’s antisemitic posts on social media
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Your support makes all the difference.Rita Ora, Lewis Capaldi, Nile Rodgers and Little Mix are among the 700 music industry figures to sign an open letter urging people to “wipe out racism now”.
The letter cites recent “anti-Jewish racism”, seemingly in reference to grime artist Wiley’s attacks on the Jewish community.
Wiley‘s antisemitic posts were branded “abhorrent” by prime minister Boris Johnson and condemned by a number of other figures in politics and music.
In response to the posts, Wiley was dropped by his management company and banned from Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The anti-racism letter, titled #NoSilenceInMusic, states that “we are at our worst when we attack one another” and that “love, unity and friendship, not division and hatred, must and will always be our common cause”.
Other artists to have signed it include Niall Horan, Years & Years, Arlo Parks, Ella Eyre, James Blunt, Sports Team, The 1975, Yungblud, Mabel, and Biffy Clyro.
The presidents of EMI, Universal Music UK, Warner Music UK and Sony Music UK also signed, as did Ed Sheeran’s manager, Stuart Camp.
The letter reads: “Whether it be systemic racism and racial inequality highlighted by continued police brutality in America or anti-Jewish racism promulgated through online attacks, the result is the same: suspicion, hatred and division.
“We are at our worst when we attack one another.”
It continues: “Minorities from all backgrounds and faiths have struggled and suffered. From slavery to the Holocaust we have painful collective memories.
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“All forms of racism have the same roots – ignorance, lack of education and scapegoating.
“We, the British music industry, are proudly uniting to amplify our voices, to take responsibility, to speak out and stand together in solidarity. Silence is not an option.”
“Through music, education and empathy we can find unity. We stand together, to educate and wipe out racism now and for our future generations,” the letter concludes.
Organisers of the letter have said that anyone that wants to add their name to the letter can do so over the coming week.
You can see the full letter on Medium here.