Come to "Britain on Trial", Saturday 29th October, Leeds

Enough is enough

Back in June, Platform, Leeds Young Authors and University of Leeds academics from the MA in Activism and Social Change put in an application to the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2011.  Unlikely context for Shake you think?? Well, talking with Shake's Simon Murray who also works with Leeds Young Authors, we realised that Shake! and LYA are in fact not just doing 'social science' but creating it.  The two groups of creative young people have loads of analysis, loads to teach the world about Britain's rough justice and countless injustices, north and south. On top of that, another incredible step in the search for justice for Stephen Lawrence had just been announced: a re-trial of two defendents due to start in November 2011, testament to the extraordinary determination of Doreen Lawrence. The Festival was also a great opportunity to have conversations with Leeds' radical academics about the work.

What with the chance to get Shake! out of London and in touch with an award-winning group of young power-writers from a great Northern city, we decided to go for a slice of the cash.

Then we heard we got the money....

So, come along to this amazing FREE event, especially timely after the 'riots'. Hear for yourselves what young people have to say. Weigh up what academics and artists think. Have a discussion, and be creative. We have linked with Selina's Britain on Trial website: go there and contribute...


In the morning, there'll be short presentations by young people and speakers on racism, media, and justice, followed by discussion. Esther Stanford from Pan-Afrikan Reparations Coalition in Europe is honouring us as Chair, and speakers Dr Carl Hylton from Leeds Bi-Centenary Transformation Project and Dr Stuart Hodkinson from Leeds University will present alongside young people from LYA and Shake, and the artists!


Then a delicious lunch. 

And in the afternoon, creative workshops in poetry/spoken word with Sai Murai, drama/movement with Khadijah Ibrahiim, and subverting media imagery with Jane Trowell. 

Film and Spoken Word Night: To top it off, a fabulous evening of spoken word by young performance-poets from Leeds Young Authors and Shake!, + powerful short films on protest and cultural struggles. This night is a collaboration with Leeds Black Film Club

Britain on Trial, Daytime workshops and discussion: 10.30am - 5pm

Evening gig and screening 7.30 - 9.30pm, at The Carriageworks, in central Leeds
ESRC Festival of Social Science details here.

SIGN UP NOW! places limited 
Email platformshake@gmail.com - put Britain on Trial in subject line