Programs & Events 2009
U.S. Embassy Helps Rock against Racism
Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) was the prevailing mantra at the opening day concert of Budapest’s week-long Sziget music festival on August 11. In an effort to mobilize the power of music as a great unifier that transcends all boundaries and cultural divides, the U.S. Embassy participated in this campaign that brought together top Hungarian bands with British musicians from the UK-based LMHR organization for a full day (12 hours) of performances. An estimated 45,000 young people from all over Hungary, Europe, and the world “rocked against racism.”
Embassy-Budapest collaborated with the British Embassy, the creator and main organizer of this event, in its efforts to promote the message that racism, Anti-Semitism, and discrimination are intolerable and have no place in today’s world.
Excerpts from President Obama’s Inaugural Address and his remarks at Cairo University on the universal aspirations of all people to be able to live in peace and security were repeatedly aired on three jumbo screens throughout the concert, along with video messages from musicians.
The concert was also the official launch day for Zene A Rasszizmus Ellen-ZARE (Music against Racism), a new organization whose mission is to continue to use music to advance the message of tolerance and anti-racism within Hungary. The U.S. Embassy, together with the U.K. Embassy, who founded the ZARE campaign, provided financial and other support for the kick-off. Staff from both embassies explained the ZARE concept to festival goers while collecting names and email addresses and handing out ZARE bracelets, buttons, fliers, t-shirts and rain ponchos.