As some of you will know, AUK is something we all do in our spare time around the various lives we lead. Me – my day job is working for a university in Liverpool, the home of Americana UK, and yesterday morning an email went out to all staff saying that our building would be locked from 2pm because of a planned far-right protest taking place at an immigration centre near to where we are based in town. I was actually away over the weekend on a family holiday but looked on in horror at the scenes unfolding in central Liverpool, a city which has always been known for its lack of tolerance for racism, prejudice and, well, intolerance. And yeah, there are underlying social reasons for all unrest, and 45 years of neoliberalism hasn’t helped, but it’s a bit difficult having any kind of reasoned discussion with violent bigots who are by and large as thick as pigshit, and there is only so much you can explain away.
We have serious concerns about AUK being on X aka Twitter at the moment given the toxic influence Elon Musk is currently having on the situation in the UK, even if it isn’t new. (“Hey Siri, can you embody in one person everything that’s wrong with late-stage capitalism?”) In the meantime, we think it’s important to say when we’re part of a community which is visibly very white both in terms of our writers and audiences more broadly, that we are more committed than ever to the principles of equality and multi-culturalism. The brutal stabbings in Southport last week, just up the road, were nothing to do with migrants, but while they are in some cases being literally hounded out of what’s meant to be safe accommodation up and down the country after having had endured Christ knows what to get here, we stand squarely with them. If they’re not your values as a reader, you are looking at the wrong website.
Sometimes people criticise AUK for having a political backbone – it’s not like any of the pioneers of the genre ever had anything to do with it after all – but we make no apologies for it and now more than ever, we echo Woody Guthrie’s thoughts from all those years ago. As the late, great Tony Benn once said, “There is no final victory, there is no final defeat. There is just the same battle. To be fought, over and over again.” We will keep on fighting the good fight until every last one of those dickheads is beaten. Solidarity.
With you all the way
Fully with you all at AUK and everything you stand for – musically and politically.
Ditto.
To each his own but the UK is full of light weights it’s a far age.
Absolutely Mark a voice of sanity in the madness !
Thanks For this, Mark. 100% agree! Proud to be associated with AUK.
Well said, Mark.
Bloody well said!!
Well said Mark. These riots, that’s what they are, are fuelled by the likes of Musk, Robinson and Farage. None of them give a damn about the poor kids attacked and killed, it’s just an opportunity to push their racist agenda to those already primed by vile Tory culture warriors. Woody’s guitar says it all and I’m proud to support AUK.
Thank you
100% agree. Well said.
Solidarity my friends,I ampart of Wrexham 4Palastine we too have a great anti fascist presence and have been mentioned as a target for these fascist attacks but thankfully our town was quiet the weekend but it has frightened our Muslim sisters and brothers ,we fight on and solidarity to the good people of Liverpool,stay safe comrades.
Spot on – many thanks for this
Well said, Mark.
Your commitment is never in doubt. Such a clear statement is welcome, and stands as a model for many others who aren’t engaged in overtly political activity.
Too bloody right; No Pasaran! ✊️
Well said Mark.
And actually – what is so funny about peace, love and understanding?
Totally with you
Well said! Good that you’ve chosen not to look the other way.
Glad to see you are giving it your best rather than the ostrich-like stance which most magazines take. The ‘we’re music magazines not political magazines’ attitude makes me sick. Most of the early Blues and Americana artists based their music on political attitudes. Oh, and frustrated love, of course.
Thanks for voicing concerns most of us share.
Absolutely. We know where AUK stands, but good to state it again, loud and proud. Love music, hate racism.
I’ll happily join the long list of folks applauding your ‘right on’ statement here Mark. In these crazy mixed up times we all find ourselves living through, what we need now (to quote the great Steve Earle from Christmas In Washington) is another hero. Come back Woody Guthrie, come back to us now!
I, just recently, removed myself from Twitter/X and closed my account. The place has become incredibly toxic and I blame Musk for destroying what had been a social media platform that shared interesting views. There should be no place for racism in any civilised society and we all have a responsibility to speak out against it wherever and whenever we can. As Woody Guthrie so clearly put it, “All you fascists are bound to lose”.
Mark, thanks so much for posting this statement. It is a great joy to be associated with such kind and courageous people. As they say, “buckle up it’s going to be a bumpy ride”, but couldn’t think of a better group of people to take it with.
Politics and music have always gone hand in hand and it’s wonderful to be part of this community that’s not afraid to make a stand against fascism.