A neo-Nazi music festival has been cancelled after a backlash to what would have been “Britain’s biggest white power concert in years”.
A two-day event named ‘Resurrection 4’ was due to be held in Great Yarmouth on September 6 and 7, but after protests from groups including Hope Not Hate, Norfolk Police have confirmed that the event will now not take place (via Great Yarmouth Mercury).
The festival would have coincided with the annual Yarmouth Pride event on the same weekend and concerns were also raised about the possibility of heightened tension and strain on police resources connected to recent protests about asylum seekers in Norfolk.
According to Hope Not Hate, Resurrection 4 would have been “the largest white power music gig held in the UK for at least 10 years”, with over 500 tickets reportedly sold. It was being organised by Rob Claymore, who the group have said supports a cause which “pushes out deeply racist and anti-Semitic material on its social media channels”.
Celebrating the cancellation, Hope Not Hate said: “Over 34,000 of you emailed the Home Office and spread the word. Local press, councils and police took notice, and under pressure, we have just received the news that the venue has pulled the plug.”
“This is a huge win. They wanted a weekend of hate, recruitment and fundraising and instead they were shut down by people like you. They’ll try again and when they do, we’ll be ready. Thank you for standing with us.”
As reported by ITV News, the bill for the festival included German band Combat BC and American act Birthrite, who have both been accused of using Nazi imagery and symbolism. Other bands scheduled to play were Crucified, Pressure 28, Last Orders and Bulldog Breed.
The event was set to be held at an undisclosed location, with local police having investigated ways to close it down, including the possibility of an emergency council meeting to discuss public safety concerns.
The UK’s Licensing Act 2003 allows police to order the closure of an individual premises for up to 24 hours if disorder is happening or likely to happen, or if a noise nuisance is reported.
Nick Lowles, CEO of Hope Not Hate, has said: “We welcome the cancellation of the gig. These hate fests have no place in our communities – as is evident from the over 34,000 people who joined Hope Not Hate in emailing the Home Office and spreading the word.”
“The cancellation will be a huge financial hit for the promoters, and will deter people from planning similar Nazi skinhead gigs.”
The group had claimed that many of the bands on the bill were supporters of Blood And Honour, which they described as “an umbrella group created in 1987 by the infamous Skrewdriver lead singer Ian Stuart Donaldson.”
As reported by The Times, Blood And Honour leader Robert Talland was found guilty of racial hatred and terrorism offences by creating, performing and distributing neo-Nazi music. The UK government have also imposed sanctions on the group under new counter-terrorism regulations.
