A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition capturing a movement to fight racism by music stars including The Clash and Elvis Costello has gone on display in Bradford.

Rock Against Racism was a groundbreaking movement between 1976 and 1981 formed by musicians and political activists to fight against racism through music.

The spark for the movement came in response to when rock star Eric Clapton pledged his support for anti-immigration, right-wing politician Enoch Powell and shouted ‘keep Britain white’ at a concert in Birmingham in 1976. Mr Clapton later claimed he was joking.

Under the slogan, Love Music, Hate Racism, the movement staged marches, festivals and more than 500 concerts throughout the UK.

It united audiences of different races, mixing musical styles and youth tribes, including punk and reggae.

Now a free exhibition at the Impressions Gallery, Centenary Square, which opens today, has recorded the era, including a collection of photographs by Yorkshire-born Syd Shelton.

Around 60 black and white images of reggae, ska and punk acts from the late 1970s and early 1980s including Aswad, Sham 69 and The Specials are featured.

Events featured in the exhibition include the 1978 march from Trafalgar Square to Hackney, where 100,000 crowded into Victoria Park for the first Rock Against Racism Carnival, and the Carnival Against the Nazis in Potternewton Park, Leeds, in 1981.

It is the first time the exhibition has been staged outside of London and it also features display cases filled with items from the era including concert set lists, posters and magazines.

Pippa Oldfield, Impressions Gallery’s head of programme, said: “It’s really fantastic.

“People will really like to look back at the fashion and the culture.

“If people are interested in politics, society and history, they will love it.

“What’s really good about the show is its positivity, that’s the message we want to get across.

“It’s about tolerance and fighting racism through music. It has some fascinating pieces and Syd Shelton has really captured the whole era.

“It is a really fascinating insight into an era that still has relevance today.”

It also features memorabilia including the Rock Against Racism fanzine, Temporary Hoarding, and vintage posters.

The exhibition was launched yesterday by musician and broadcaster Tom Robinson, who was a crucial figure in the Rock Against Racism movement.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid, also attended the event.

Mr Shelton and Carol Tulloch, co-curator of Rock Against Racism, will hold a free In Conversation session about the exhibition at the Impressions Gallery on Saturday, July 23, between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Mr Shelton said: “I hope the exhibition shows that you can change things and you can actually take a stand, even in the most difficult of situations.

“I don’t mean to suggest the fight is over, that would be ridiculous to say when you look at the current situation in Calais, but music had changed. It had become more multi-racial and that was fantastic.”

The Rock Against Racism exhibition will run until September 3.