DOA will revive the Rock Against Racism banner against the new wave of right wing racism.
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When: June 4, 7 p.m.
Where: Rickshaw Theatre, 254 E. Hastings St., Vancouver
Tickets: $20 at eventbrite.ca
On June 4, Sudden Death Records and the Rickshaw Theater will present a Rock Against Racism Fundraiser with all proceeds from ticket sales going to “local organizations that are standing up for people of all races, fighting racism, enabling our youth and working to make reconciliation to reality.”
In 1976, Rock Against Racism (RAR) was a movement that emerged in the UK in response to the rise of the right-wing extremist National Front political party and its sympathizers in pop music, the visual arts and other cultural scenes. Like-minded punk rockers such as DOA launched the first RAR events in Canada.
Now it seems the times require a return to this kind of high-decibel activism as racially motivated domestic terrorism targets innocent communities across North America and far-right agendas enter life and politics as discussed in Canadian Postmedia News’ publications such as The National Post.
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As Burnaby councilor and DOA leader Joey Keithley notes: “We are in a tough and unsettled time right now and as we have gone through the pandemic we have seen racism grow in Canada, to the point where racist organizations are seemingly getting stronger. So as a way of trying to fight this scourge I thought back to the Rock Against Racism rallies that DOA played on in the late 1970s. Those rallies were a great success and they motivated people to stand up to this kind of BS.”
All the artists involved are donating their time and proceeds to the selected grassroots groups who are building community. These include Nation Skates Youththe South Burnaby Metro Clubthe Urban Native Youth Associationthe Aboriginal Mothers Center and the Kàra-Kàtá African Village.