Rock Against Racism



Rock Against Racism was a British anti-racist campaign that raised awareness for its cause by staging rock concerts.

RAR was originally conceived by Red Saunders and Roger Huddle as a one-off concert, but nothing came of the idea until August 1976 when Eric Clapton drunkenly praised Enoch Powell. Saunders, Huddle and two members of Kartoon Klowns responded with a letter to New Musical Express announcing the launch of the Rock Against Racism movement and calling for collaborators; Huddle since claimed that they received hundreds of letters in reply. RAR was ultimately part of a broader anti-racism movement (its frequent partner, the Anti-Nazi League, was founded in 1977) that grew up in response to the National Front.

The first RAR carnival was held in 1978. The campaign prompted a backlash from the white power music scene, which launched Rock Against Communism in response.

At the time, Roger Huddle was working for the Socialist Workers Party as a graphic designer. The SWP was closely involved with RAR, allowing its PO box and print shop to be used by the campaign.

The original incarnation of RAR gradually faded away during the eighties, although an arguable successor &mdash; &mdash; was set up in 2002 following the elections of BNP councillers in Burnley.