Michael S. Wright: The exit from Europe will mean the gradual phasing out of all the human rights laws...What it will do for the music industry could be very serious indeed.

John McLaughlin Williams

On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 AfriClassical posted:

On An Overgrown Path: Black Musicians Matter [Joseph Jones & Orchestra Amadeus on Orlando; Cremaine Booker on YouTube re Alton Sterling & Philando Castile]

Michael S. Wright of the United Kingdom comments:

Hi Bill,

Oh dear, I am ‘forced’ to comment here as I feel my country has stepped into the unknown with dire consequences ahead. The quote in John McLaughlin Williams posting ‘Someone with a not inconsiderable profile in the UK classical music industry recently wrote on social media à propos the EU referendum: "I don't think I realised, until two weeks ago, just how much intolerance and stupidity there is in this country", a statement with which a considerable number of the great and good agreed.’ This is most relevant in the UK and racism, anti Islamic and general xenophobia is becoming a real issue and a scary one too. Just take a look at these.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/29/frenzy-hatred-brexit-racism-abuse-referendum-celebratory-lasting-damage

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/brexit-britain-latest-news-academics-threaten-to-quit-brain-drain-over-racist-xenophobic-eu-a7133316.html

http://qz.com/719050/yes-britains-brexit-is-about-racism-but-theres-more-to-the-story/

http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/london-rapper-akala-on-brexit-racism-in-the-uk-and-whether-hed-run-for-pm

http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/7-11-2016/breaking-down-brexit-understanding-what-brexit-means-for-the-state-of-the-eus-music-industry.html

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/27/brexit-racism-eu-referendum-racist-incidents-politicians-media

With people from various parts of the world in my family, with the associated mix of races and religious beliefs, it is scary. The exit from Europe will mean the gradual phasing out of all the human rights laws that have been invoked over the years as a result of belonging to the EU. This will include those acts passed in respect of outlawing racism and other discriminations. I just hope that we do not end up marching back to the attitudes of the 1930’s.... What it will do for the music industry could be very serious indeed.

Finally, for the sake of humanity, I just hope that America does not elect Trump.

Kind regards

Mike