The King Blues protest against the BNP

THREE HUNDRED people - mostly young black, Asian and white, crowded into the Broadway Theatre in Barking this Saturday to see the launch of Love Music Hate Racism's campaign for the general and council elections.

This was the first gig Love Music Hate Racism has been allowed to hold in Barking. And following a week of threats and intimidation from supporters of the BNP, including a visit from Bob Bailey, leader of the BNP opposition on Barking Council, the gig went ahead.

Members of ska band, The King Blues, made a last minute decision to take their protest at the politics of hate and division straight to the steps of Barking council, where they held an unplugged session just before midnight. (Pictures available). Gig-goers joined the band with chants of "Whose streets? Our streets!"

Itch Fox, of The King Blues said of their impromptu performance: "The BNP can try and stop us, can try and censure us, but they can't stop the people's voice. At the end of the day, we will rise up and people will hear the truth."

Martin Smith, Love Music Hate Racism coordinator, said: "Fantastic--this is the real spirit of rebellion. Better to fight the BNP than to cowl to their threats."

Other performers on the night included local female spoken word collective Words in Motion, veteran grime MC, Ghetts and dance-rhyme duo Where's Huey?