Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 14/02/2026Concerns were also raised about the reliance on so-called “experts”, often police officers, rather than independent specialists with genuine cultural expertise. 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 14/02/2026During the debate, peers warned of the risks inherent in treating artistic expression as literal confession: “Much of the bragging and the boasting is simply that...to present that in court as some kind of evidence… is a slippery slope.” 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 14/02/2026Peers from across the House supported introducing safeguards for admitting music lyrics and videos as evidence. This is all good news - the issue will be pursued at the next stage of the bill. 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 14/02/2026Good news from the House of Lords 💛 On Wednesday, peers debated the use of creative expression as evidence in criminal trials, which demonstrated clear and unchallenged cross-party concern about the current approach of creative expression as evidence in criminal trials. 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 03/07/2025We urge the government to reform the law, to prevent the misuse of creative expression. 000
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 03/07/2025Art Not Evidence flying the flag - literally - for Kneecap and in solidarity with Bob Vylan. Read our full statement below... 110
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 26/06/2025➡️ Come with us to Parliament to talk to MPs in about the use of rap music as evidence in criminal trials… #artnotevidence #rapontrial #rap #rapmusic #drill #drillmusic #jointenterprise #law #parliament #portcullishouse #westminster #debate #freedomofexpression #ukmusic 120
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 24/06/2025Even bigger thanks to @kimjohnsonmp.bsky.social for speaking about us and our bill in last week’s debate on the Crime and Policing bill, highlighting how rap music is so often used to produce ‘gang narratives’ and introduce racist stereotypes into the courtroom. 010
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 24/06/2025ANE back in Parliament! Huge thanks to the APPG on Music and APPG on Miscarriages of Justice for coming together to support our cause and bill, specifically @kimjohnsonmp.bsky.social, @petewishart.bsky.social, our day 1 @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social and @ukmusic.bsky.social for facilitating. 110
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 12/06/2025✨ WE'RE HIRING ✨ Campaign Coordinator (Part-time) Deadline: Monday 23rd June More details and apply here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 000
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 06/05/2025‼️ “How parents regulate their childrens lives and how the state regulates our creative expression are two different things” ‼️ Our very own Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah joins Nkem Ifejika on BBC R4’s ‘Hip-Hop Homework’ navigating the varying opinions and aspects of the genre... 000
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Thursday 1st May in Manchester: Jailed for 8 Years Over a Group Chat? Challenging Institutional Racism in the Courts. In this year’s annual lecture at @uomsoss.bsky.social University of Manchester, Keir Monteith KC, Honorary Senior Lecturer, breaks down Ade’s case — one of the Manchester 10 021
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Wednesday 30th in Bradford: Know Your Rights Workshop: The Criminalisation of Music and Young People with Adèle Oliver, the author of 'Deeping it - Colonialism, Culture and Criminalisation of UK Drill' ahead of ‘Public Interest’ the new immersive show from Common Wealth 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Tuesday 29th in Leicester: The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre Annual Lecture 'Race, Respectability & Disproportionality: The Use of Music in the Criminalisation of Young Black People' - Keir Monteith KC will be keynote speaker, followed by incredible panellists 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 26/03/2025David Letterman’s reaction to Jay-Z here shows the problem with using rap as evidence ‼️ Imagine 12 David Letterman’s on a jury, being told that lyrics by a Black teenager are literal and amount to a confession… 010
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Not sure we believe in coincidences anymore…the same week we visit the US for the first time at SXSW we have also officially aligned with our sister campaign in the US 'Free Our Art' 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 22/02/2025The more signatures, the stronger the message to policy makers! ✍️ Add your name at artnotevidence.org 000
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 22/02/2025Thank you for 1000 signatories on our open letter!!! Learn more about what we’re campaigning for and add your name via the 🔗 in our bio or on our website 💛 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 31/01/2025We're SO PROUD of our co-founder Keir Monteith KC who is @thetimes.com Lawyer of the Week after his incredible work quashing his client Ade Adedeji's conviction in the Court of Appeal. 100
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 25/01/2025The Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley went on Nick Ferrari’s @lbc.co.uk show yesterday morning, commenting that he agrees with the former commissioner Cressida Dick and ‘supports’ controls on drill rap and lyrics... 110
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 09/01/2025On Tuesday we were in Portcullis House running an Art Not Evidence “drop-in session” sponsored by our number 1 @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social This was an opportunity for MPs to come and speak with the team and ask questions about the campaign and we were delighted with the turnout 💛 183
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 26/11/2024We had a little gathering to thank our team and supporters over what has been a crazy first year of campaigning to stop the use of rap music unjustly against young Black people in UK courts. Here’s to making bigger and better moves in 2025! 💛 000
Art Not Evidence @artnotevidence.bsky.social · 22/11/2024A whole year of campaigning to stop the unjust use of rap music as evidence in criminal trials. We’ve got a lot more work to do but we’re proud of how far our scrappy lil team has come and what we’ve managed to achieve and learn in 365 days. Next year we’re levelling up 📈 100