Dear Peter,
Mari has very kindly agreed to post this here for me. I wanted to make sure you would see it. It's a press statement that we issued on Friday 28th April:
We at Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) have been pleased to be associated with Pete Doherty over the last two years. From his time in the Libertines to his current band Babyshambles, Pete has always helped LMHR in whatever way he can. Since the start of 2004 he has played at more of our events than any other artist, from the London Astoria and Coronet to Trafalgar Square. Never once during that time has he asked for payment for playing. Furthermore, he has encouraged other bands he knows to get involved in playing at our events. This is his fifth show for us, and we hope to continue to work with him in future.
Despite the lurid headlines, we know Pete as a thoughtful, intelligent and committed anti-racist, who is deeply opposed to the racist poison spread by the British National Party. He is a talented musician who has written some of the best songs of this decade, and we look forward to hearing him play some of those songs at Trafalgar Square. We believe that it is more important than ever for people to stand together united against racism, and we want as many people as possible to join together tomorrow to say no to the BNP.
The Trafalgar Square event will see a host of speakers and musicians speak out against the fascist BNP. Other artists include Belle & Sebastian, Roll Deep, Boy Kill Boy, Lethal Bizzle and many more. The afternoon kicks off with a youth showcase in Trafalgar Square at 12 noon. The day is sponsored by the Amicus trade union (which also hosted yesterday's press conference), along with the PCS, Unison Greater London, CWU and NATFHE unions.
Those attending the event will be asked to join mass leafletting the following day in BNP target areas, particularly Barking & Dagenham in east london. The BNP is a racist and fascist organisation aiming to exploit scapegoating of asylum seekers and Muslims, and disillusion with mainstream politics, to push its agenda of "an all-white Britain". Its leader Nick Griffin has been convicted of denying the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and millions of others were murdered by Hitler's Nazis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter, the sentiments expressed in that statement are as true today, Sunday, as they were on Friday. We know you wanted to come and play at Trafalgar Square yesterday and we at LMHR did our best to get you out in time. What you should know is that Drew did both himself and you proud. I'm sure he'll tell you about what our organisers said about you and the police from the stage. Anyway, you know where we are if you want to contact us, D and N both have my number. And by the way, consider yourself booked for the next gig.
love P.A xxx
http://www.myspace.com/art_gallery
http://www.marilikestoshoot.book.fr
http://www.cafepress.com/latinamerican
