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Nova Twins‘ Amy Love has spoken out against the rise of “division and violence” in the UK amid recent anti-immigration protests across the country.
The musician shared the statement, titled ‘Love Over Hate’, on social media today (September 8), in which she urged her followers to “lead with love not anger, lead with compassion not fear, and stand against racism and fascism”.
Her statement follows a string of protests held in Epping, Essex, where The Bell Hotel is currently housing asylum seekers. As The Independent reports, a resident of the hotel was assaulted outside the property last Friday (September 5).
Police attended the hotel after numerous people reportedly threw projectiles such as flares and firecrackers. BBC News also reported that three people had been arrested at The Bell Hotel at the end of last month.
Some of the protestors waved Union Jack and St George’s flags. Additionally, there has been a spate of the latter being painted on roundabouts and road signs across the country, per BBC News.
Love is mixed race, and was raised in Essex. Her mother is Iranian, and her father is Nigerian. Beginning her message, she wrote: “Those who wave the St George’s flag so proudly do nothing for this country except spread division and violence, beer bellies hanging out as their only badge of honour.
“Whatever you think your ‘worst nightmare’ is, it’s nothing compared to what these families seeking refuge have lived through. Ask yourself this, if it were you, how far would you go to protect your loved ones and get them to safety?”
She continued: “Refugees make up less than one per cent in the UK. They are not the reason you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, feed your children, get an NHS appointment, find stable work, afford tuition fees, buy a home, or keep your business afloat.
“The real cause lies in a government that prioritises the wealth of a few over the needs of the many. 50 of the richest families in the UK hold more wealth than 34 million people at the bottom combined. That is where your anger should be directed, at the obscene greed of billionaires and corporations, not at people fleeing violence and persecution.”
The singer and guitarist went on to speak about her own background, concluding: “My Iranian mother who came to this country for similar reasons taught me to lead with compassion and love. I couldn’t be prouder to be her daughter.”
Last year, Nova Twins were among the acts to sign a Love Music Hate Racism statement condemning the far-right riots in the UK. The incidents came in the wake of the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class in Southport, Merseyside.
Numerous Mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers were targeted, as were various shops and libraries, which were burnt out and looted.
Back in 2021, the duo curated a compilation to spotlight and showcase underrepresented POC artists from the rock and alternative scene. They said: “If people want rock to survive, they need to diversify.”
Nova Twins had previously talked to NME about the increasing racism in the UK and “the systemic racism in the [music] industry that’s ingrained in everyone’s minds”. Speaking about the Black Lives Matter movement, Love explained: “Now we can hold people accountable, unapologetically.
“Before we were a bit polite about it or questioned whether we should speak up about certain things because we were worried we’d be seen as the aggressive Black woman. It has definitely given us courage and hope that the brands we represent and the people we work with are thinking on the same level, want change and are advocates for it.”
The post Nova Twins’ Amy Love: “Refugees make up less than one per cent in the UK – they are not the reason you’re struggling” appeared first on NME.