UpRise – a group wanting the festival reinstated – said that the mayor’s claims there was a link between the removal of the Rise festival's overt anti-racist message in 2008 and its good attendance were unfounded.
"We are confused by the mayor’s misguided rationale, as there is no evidence, except in his mind, to suggest that the removal of the anti-racism message contributed to attendance levels at Rise in 2008. It seems as though the mayor is clutching at straws in order to justify his removal of the message," said UpRise spokesperson Mike Bernard.
A spokesman for the mayor said that despite UpRise’s protest, no analogy was made between the anti-racist messaging and the rise in visitor numbers.
"We have made it clear that we would be willing to look at holding a major music festival in the future, depending on whether we were able to find commercial or other funders," he added.
UpRise contends that unions Unison and Unite have expressed a willingness to provide funds for the event if the anti-racism message was reinstated.
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