Around 30,000 people, black and white, young and old enjoyed the sun and the bands at the 'Love Music, Hate Racism' Carnival this weekend - the biggest anti-racist event in the North West for two decades.

As the Labour council in Burnley had banned the event from Burnley on the grounds that it wouldn't promote good community relations(!) the carnival was rearranged at short notice to Manchester.

The day started with a spirited march from the city centre which joined the carnival in the early afternoon led by the big delegation from Burnley.

Beautiful weather complemented fine performances from countless acts - big crowd favourites were definitely Heartless Crew, Out Da Ville, the Doves- who played a beautiful acoustic tinged set- and headliner Ms Dynamite who pulled people from the crowd to show their rapping skills from the stage, much to the delight of the crowd. The dance tent was heaving for most of the afternoon pumping out some mad garage and drum and bass to get people's hands in the air and asses dancing!

In between the acts various speakers including Shahid Malik, beaten up by the police in last years riots, spoke of what a brilliant opportunity there now is to build a mass anti-racist movement to get rid of the Nazis - a mass petition, signed by all the acts is to be handed in to Burnley council demanding that they allow a carnival to be held there in the Spring.

A brilliant day of black and white unity and a big fuck you to the Nazis!