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London parties in the sun at Notting Hill Carnival
2007-08-28
Dancers dolled up in feathers, flamboyant performers and elaborate floats filed through west London Monday as Europe's biggest street party pumped up the volume on its Caribbean rhythms. Sunny weather and a public holiday drew hundreds of thousands of people to the free Notting Hill Carnival, which celebrates West Indian culture. This year's theme was "Set All Free," marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the British Empire. "It's amazing how many people have taken on our theme -- freedom, equality, opportunity, liberty," said Professor Chris Mullard, chairman of the London Notting Hill Carnival Company. "The carnival is an expression of identity but also of belonging, culturally enriching to the rest of British society. "When I started coming in the 1960s, the murder of a young black man, Kelso Cochrane, had prompted the beginning of the Notting Hill race riots. But now things have moved from a kind of 'Please accept us' to 'We were born here.'" The festival was originally launched in 1959 by post-World War II immigrants from what were then Britain's Caribbean colonies, as a community act of defiance following ugly race riots the year before. It was held in various parts of London before settling permanently in Notting Hill in 1964. The carnival has been marred by violence in previous years. Two men were murdered in 2000, and memories of riots in 1976 still linger. London's Metropolitan Police deployed around 11,000 officers this year, and were using metal detectors at Underground railway stations to net knives and guns. Police arrested three people in connection with the attempted murder of a man at the carnival on Sunday, a spokesman said. The man, who was taken to a nearby hospital, was in stable condition on Monday. At least 19 people suspected of planning to engage in violence at the carnival were arrested for offences including robbery ahead of the event, police said Saturday. A further 70 people were arrested Sunday, down on the previous year's figure of 109 arrests. "London's been waiting all summer for some great sunshine like we had yesterday and today and it's fantastic it's come just in time for the carnival," a spokesman for the organisers said. "There also seems to be less crime than last year so everyone can get on and enjoy themselves." Revellers milled about between the sound systems and stalls as police officers -- many wearing earplugs -- patrolled the parade route. "Everyone's loving it now the sun's out," said stall owner Patrick Treacy, 45, from Harlesden in west London. "The garlands are selling like hot cakes and there's just a great atmosphere." Lisa Roberts, 24, a receptionist from Australia, said: "We heard only great things about the carnival so we had to come and experience it. "We thought the summer had forgotten to come to London but it's great to see the sun out and everyone enjoying themselves. "Culturally, this is definitely one of the richest festivals I've ever been to."
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