There is a group trying to continue the event that Boris discontinued – to make UpRise: London United Against Racism happen. They are nearing a crucial stage of planning but their ambitions are currently being held back by funding – a factor they always knew would be our greatest challenge.
They are waiting on the responses of funding bodies and seeking commercial sponsorship too, we are pushing to get those who have supported our campaign, understand what Rise stood for and have enjoyed Rise in the past to get involved.
They have launched a fundraising drive in the style of Blue Peter! They’re calling for donations from past Rise attendees and supporters – if all 100,000 who attended Rise in 2008 pledged just £1 we’d be on target to fund our festival. Donations can be made though their website; http://www.uprise.org.uk and they are working on a “fund-o-meter” to indicate how much funding they have gained.
They asked me to publicise this – so here I am doing so.
Lynne Featherstone 
At the website it says:
“Please be aware that this festival is being resurrected independently of government funding by a non–profit, grassroots organisation of volunteers lending their skills. UpRise will be a festival by the people, for the people.”
This is exactly what should be happening to all such events. Those who want it can pay for it and if there is insufficient interest, it won’t happen. It should not be the role of government to take money from the taxpayer and hand it out to cultural, religious, advocacy, charitable, artistic or sporting organisations. People should have their money left in their pockets so they can decide what is important to them and what events or organisations they will support instead of having politicians decide for them.
I think events like this are entirely ineffective in terms of combating racism and do not see why taxpayers should fund a music festival. I personally am not impressed with politicians who are generous with other people’s money.
Lynee is being somewhat dishonest here.
Johnson merely excluded overtly politcal groups from taking over the event as in previous years, wanting to give it a community focus.
The Unions got offended with the big improvements made and so they’ve thrown their toys out of the pram and pulled the plug. They’ve withdrawn the sponsorship solely because they aren’t allowed to politicise the event anymore – Johnson hasn’t cancelled anything.
I don’t’ exactly agree with DocBud’s comments, but the government certainly shouldn’t be helping to fund political rallies which is essentially what the Rise festival was in previous years.