Art Not Evidence: IDLES, Annie Mac and more back campaign for ban on rap lyrics being used in court

nme.com:

IDLES, BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and a host of MPs are backing a campaign for a ban on rap lyrics being used in court.They have written an open letter that can be signed by anyone, with notable signatories also including lawyer Lady Chakrabarti and Labour MPs Nadia Whittome and Kim Johnson.Whittome is due to table new legislation drafted by the Art Not Evidence group – formed last year by a group of lawyers, academics and music industry professionals – in the next parliamentary session which will call for a rigorous set of tests to determine whether prosecutors should be allowed to put rap evidence, including lyrics, recorded tracks, and music videos in front of juries.She said via a press release: “The misuse of rap lyrics in court is a clear example of the institutional racism that blights our criminal justice system.

It is a practice that relies on racist stereotypes, using young Black people’s creative expression and taste in music in an attempt to turn juries against them, and risks miscarriages of justice.”✍️ Sign our open letter calling for law reform to keep creative and artistic expression out of court.