Singing pair share the love to fight hate
STUDENTS HELP MAKE MUSIC VIDEO TO BACK CAMPAIGN
COVENTRY singing sensations Letitia George and Jordan Charles have teamed up with local youngsters to create a song raising awareness about hate crime.
Letitia rose to fame on the BBC One show The Voice in 2015, when she wowed judges Sir Tom Jones, Rita Ora and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson.
She has joined forces with Let It Shine contestant Jordan to create a powerful music single, called Love Instead of Hate (Give it a Try), which aims to show the true pain caused by hate crime.
A music video has also been made with the help of students from The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College in Rugby, as part of Warwickshire’s campaign during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which ends today.
Letitia said: “It was an absolute pleasure to work alongside some fantastic people on making this song. I really hope that Love Instead of Hate raises plenty of awareness and can do some real good increasing the number of Hate Crimes getting reported Every little good contributes to the fight against hate crime.”
The single, which has been produced in Warwickshire by music producers Neil Williams and Chris Welch, aims to show the true pain caused by hate crime and increase the public reporting of it through a new website, reporthatenow.com
It was launched after a recent study suggested three out of every five hate crimes are not reported to the police.
The song was initially inspired by poetry written by Stephen Crowshaw, a Nuneaton and Bedworth police officer.
“This was a really exciting project, and something our students do not normally get to experience,” said Avon Valley School achievement leader, Dan Phelan. “The shoot was quite messy as it involved black paint and colourful powder.
However, the students loved every minute of it. “I’d like to say a huge thank-you to Warwickshire County Council, the producers, and artists for involving us in this video, which I hope will be very successful.” The school’s head teacher, Alison Davies, added: “I am incredibly proud of the students who were involved in this project. “I was fortunate to be able t o watch the video for the first time with students who were involved and their reaction to the finished video was wonderful.”
Jordan said: “Our communities are suffering from a lack of empathy. It’s much quicker to judge, insult or persecute someone than it is to feel compassion for them. Hopefully the message of love and strength in our song will help to inspire more empathy during Hate Crime Awareness Week and beyond”
The law protects everyone against prejudice or hostility that is directed towards them based on their disability, gender identity, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Hate incidents happen when someone is targeted simply for being who they are, or who someone perceives them to be.
Police say sometimes what starts as name calling can escalate into something worse such as threats, harassment or even physical violence.
If you have seen or been the victim of hate or abuse, no matter how small you might think it is, visit the Warwickshire Hate Crime Partnership website at www. reporthatenow.com/