Following recent outbreaks of violence in Southport, Belfast, Sunderland, Rotherham, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Plymouth, UK-based organisation Love Music Hate Racism released a statement calling for more resistance to “the hatred and division stoked by the far right” and pointing out that “artists have a key role to play in bringing communities together in the current climate”.

Artists who signed the statement include London-based Irish band Fontaines DC, as well as IDLES, Nova Twins, Enter Shikari, Nadine Shah, Frank Turner, Nubya Garcia, Alabaster Deplume, Silhouettes Project, Sarathy Korwar and the Asian Dub Foundation.

Founded in 2002, Love Music Hate Racism follows in the tradition of the Rock Against Racism movement of the late 1970s. The organisation organises events and campaigns in response to “rising Islamophobia, anti-migrant racism and hostility towards refugees in the UK and across Europe”.

Now they want to relaunch their campaign with a series of appearances across the UK “to create unity”.

Read Love Music Hate Racism’s full “Statement Against Far-Right Violence” below:

“Love Music Hate Racism condemns the shocking scenes of far-right violence since the tragic murder of three young children on July 29 in Southport during a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.

“Racist and organised fascists rampaged through cities across the UK, attacking mosques, burning asylum seeker accommodation and brutally assaulting black and brown people. The violence was fuelled by far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson, aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who deliberately spread false information by blaming a Muslim migrant for the Southport attack.

“The racist violence that spread rapidly from Southport to cities including Sunderland, Rotherham, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast, Nottingham and Plymouth is not taking place in a vacuum. Politicians and the media share some of the blame for creating a climate in which racist and Islamophobic discourses have become a feature of mainstream politics. The rhetoric of ‘Stop the Boats’, the demonisation of asylum seekers in Home Office accommodation and the labelling of Muslim communities as ‘extremists’ have all helped to normalise the hateful ideas of the far right.

“But where there is racism, there is always resistance to it. On August 7, 25,000 people reportedly took part in anti-fascist protests against the far-right’s threat to target immigration advice centres and lawyers across the country. At least 8,000 took to the streets in London’s Walthamstow, 7,000 in Bristol and 2,000 in Brighton.

“Love Music Hate Racism believes that more resistance is needed and that artists have a key role to play in bringing communities together in the current climate. Love Music Hate Racism was founded in 2002 in response to the growth of the pro-national socialist British National Party (BNP). The campaign worked with hundreds of musicians who used their platforms to successfully confront the fascist threat posed by the BNP, following in the proud tradition of Rock Against Racism. Music has the power to spread hope and unite communities against the hatred and division fomented by the far right.

“It is now more important than ever that music is at the heart of a united cultural movement that counters the threat of the far right and strengthens communities damaged by the destructive effects of racism.

“Music reflects the wonderful, diverse mix of our communities. Join us in building a movement that celebrates this: Love Music, Hate Racism.”